HEALTH

Allergies: Consultants

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many consultant allergists there are in England per head of population;
	(2)  how many consultants specialising in allergies there are in England.

Ann Keen: The majority of patients with an allergy are treated in primary care. There are 18 consultant allergists in England. This equates to 0.04 per 100,000 population. There are also 444 consultant dermatologists, 58 consultant immunologists and 2,156 consultant paediatricians who treat patients with allergies.

Autism

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with autistic spectrum disorder have been detained under mental health legislation since the relevant provisions came into force.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Autism: Diagnosis

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the frequency with which autistic spectrum disorder was misdiagnosed as a mental health condition, in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of occasions on which a misdiagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder led to an inappropriate prescription of psychoactive drugs in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.
	The content of curricula of courses for health and social care professionals is a matter for a variety of independent professional and educational bodies such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Children: Health Services

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role health visitors will play in delivering the Child Health Promotion Programme; and what estimate he has made of the number of health visitors required to deliver the target outcomes of the programme.

Ann Keen: Health visitors are central to delivering the Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP). With expertise in children, families and public health, together with their background as nurses they are ideally placed to lead the delivery of CHPP in the community. The recent review into the future role of the health visitor, 'Facing the Future', recommended two roles for health visitors. One of the roles is to lead and deliver the CHPP for a defined population working across general practice and children's centres. The recently updated CHPP promotes the important role of the health visitor to commissioners and services providers.
	It is the responsibility of local organisations to commission and develop services to respond to local needs, including the recruitment of health visitors. The operating framework for 2008-09 highlights the importance of children's services and the need for local organisations to commission and provide the necessary services and work force.

Chlamydia: Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to have developed a national template for service specification for chlamydia screening through the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework; and what steps he will take to encourage primary care trusts to commission chlamydia screening as an advanced service.

Dawn Primarolo: The Sexual Health National Support Team (SH-NST) will be working closely with the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) to increase screening volumes. The SH-NST will also be working jointly with strategic health authorities to identify those areas facing the greatest challenge in commissioning services, to help drive up screening volumes. The Government plan to publish a national template later in 2008 to support primary care trusts' commissioning of chlamydia screening from community pharmacies as part of the NCSP.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that recommendations for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines are met in respect of  (a) the causes of the illness,  (b) the clinical and cost effectiveness of intervention strategies and  (c) identifying efficient ways to deliver domiciliary care for people who are severely affected.

Dawn Primarolo: Research recommendations made in National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines are considered on behalf of the Department by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme (HTA). The director of the HTA programme meets annually with NICE for this purpose. The next of these joint meetings will be held in September.

Departmental Sustainable Development

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme.

Ivan Lewis: The Department started working with the Carbon Trust on the Carbon Management Programme last autumn. We are currently engaged in a tender exercise for the consultants who will work with us on the Programme.

Doctors: Pensions

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the NHS pension abatement rules on doctors who have been obliged to retire on the grounds of disability and who are re-employed by the NHS on a part-time contract.

Ann Keen: Abatement is a common feature of public service pension schemes. It affects all members of the NHS Pension Scheme who receive an enhanced national health service pension funded by the scheme or their employer if they return to NHS employment. It continues until they are aged 60 for members of the 1995 scheme, or age 65 for those members of the 2008 scheme. It does not affect those who have retired on voluntary grounds with an actuarial reduction in their pension. Abatement will usually only affect those who earn more than 50 per cent. of their previous salary.

Eyes: Diseases

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements his Department places on ophthamologists to maintain statistics to monitor the incidence of keratoconus.

Ann Keen: The majority of keratoconus patients will receive contact lenses or glasses from their optometrist or ophthalmic medical practitioner and will have their condition managed in the community.
	The Department places no requirements on individual ophthalmologists to maintain statistics on such patients. Hospitals are required to collect data on the diagnosis of patients being admitted to hospital. This include those patients with a diagnosis of keratoconus.

Hospitals: Cleaning Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which hospitals in  (a) Southend and  (b) Essex had not been deep cleaned by the target date; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much was given to each hospital in  (a) Southend and  (b) Essex to fund its deep clean; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: As set out in my written ministerial statement on 21 April,  Official Report, columns 93-94WS, a list of the trusts which have undertaken or are undertaking a deep clean as part of this national programme is available in the Library. This list sets out which trusts completed their deep clean by 31 March 2008 and which are still undertaking their deep clean and are due to complete by the end of May 2008.
	Information provided by strategic health authorities (SHAs) shows that they have all made available the funding they promised for the programme, as also set out in my written ministerial statement. Further information on the implementation of the deep clean of the national health service is available from SHAs.

Maternity Services: Merseyside

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many perinatologists are employed in each hospital trust on Merseyside.

Ann Keen: This information is not available in the format requested.
	The trusts that most closely correspond within the Merseyside area have been included in the following table.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services: Medical staff within the Obstetrics and gynaecology specialty by organisation within the Merseyside area 
			   Numbers (headcount)  Full-time equivalents 
			 Merseyside 124 114 
			 Wirral Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 21 18 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 16 16 
			 Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 63 57 
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 24 23 
			  Notes: 1. The table is up to date as at 30 September 2007. 2. The staff information cannot be summated at such a low level. Perinatologists have therefore been substituted for staff with the obstetrics and gynaecology specialty. 3. The information does not include primary care trusts in the area, some of which may have these specialities. 4. Only organisations which have obstetrics and gynaecological staff were shown. If a trust does not appear in the table, it indicates that there were zero obstetrics and gynaecological staff. This does not necessarily mean that this service is not provided at that trust.  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care—medical and dental workforce census.

Mental Health Services

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations the Government has received on the likely effects of implementing the provisions of the Mental Health Act 2007 on independent mental health advocacy six months after the introduction of community treatment orders;
	(2)  when plans for the commissioning and implementation of mental health advocacy services under the Mental Health Act 2007 will be published;
	(3)  when training for mental health advocates under the Mental Health Act 2007 will begin; and what criteria will be used to select advocates.

Ivan Lewis: The Mental Health Alliance has asked the Department to consider placing together the implementation dates for the Mental Health Act 2007, and independent mental health advocacy provision to provide additional safeguards, particularly for patients discharged from hospital under supervised community treatment.
	We aim to publish guidance on commissioning and implementing independent mental health advocacy later this year.
	National training materials are currently being developed and tested. We aim to make these available for organisations to start training later this year. Local commissioners are responsible for contracting with organisations to provide independent mental health advocacy services. Departmental guidance for commissioners will provide guidance on service specifications and standards.

NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have had on the possible suspension of regulation 13 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: I discussed this matter with the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) recently and explained that there were no plans to suspend regulation 13 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005.
	I meet officials regularly to discuss questions of policy. Our White Paper 'Pharmacy in England Building on Strengths—Delivering the Future' (Cm7341) published on 3 April 2008 sets out the Government's proposals in relation to pharmacies open at least 100 hours per week which have secured the right to provide NHS services under regulation 13. Full consultation will follow later this summer.

NHS European Office

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work has been conducted by the NHS European Office since it was set up in 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: The NHS European Office intends to produce a report on its activities covering the period from establishment to the end of the financial year. This will be published shortly on the Office's website.

NHS: Consultants

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants with clinical excellence awards, who have been obliged to retire on the grounds of disability and have been re-employed on a part-time contract by the NHS, have been required to repay a part of their pension under NHS pension abatement rules.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS: Drugs

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are circumstances under which unused prescription medicines returned by patients may be re-allocated to other patients; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not appropriate to promote the reuse of medicines returned from patients. The continuing quality of medicines returned from patients following storage in their homes and the ability of pharmacists to assure quality based on physical inspection cannot be guaranteed. Recycling medicines returned by patients is both unethical and unsafe.

NHS: Land

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Answer of 18 July 2007,  Official Report, column 470W, on NHS: land, what progress has been made by his Department in examining how the review of surplus NHS land will apply to the NHS foundation trust sector; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The review of surplus land resulted in 299 national health service trusts replying to a request for details of their land holdings. About 190 sites were identified with a total area of 260 hectares, or enough for 6,300 new homes.
	Of the responding trusts, 10 were foundation trusts. Discussions continue with all trusts to ensure that all surplus land is properly registered with English Partnerships.

NHS: Pay

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of the market forces factor on hospital trusts that employ staff at nationally agreed pay rates in areas where average earning are below national averages.

Ann Keen: The Department has commissioned two pieces of research to look at the impact of external labour markets on national health service staff costs. The first, a study on regional pay differentials in 2005 known as the 'Aberdeen Study' found that private sector wage rates were correlated with the vacancy rate for qualified nurses. As part of its current work programme, the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation has carried out a review of the market forces factor. This work will be used to inform revenue allocations to primary care trusts for 2009-10 and 2010-11. The aim is to announce the revenue allocations by the summer.

NHS: Security

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at how many sites  (a) Safe Estates Ltd and  (b) Camelot have been commissioned by the NHS to provide site security for existing or former hospital or medical facilities.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has responsibility for one hospital site on which it has a current contract with Safe Estates Ltd. and Camelot. There are no other known contracts that the Department has with either firm.
	The Department does not hold this information in respect of hospital sites owned and operated by the national health service. It is a matter for each NHS trust to make whatever arrangements it sees fit to cover its security needs.

Nurses: Schools

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses were employed by each primary care trust in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The annual national health service workforce census collected information on the number of school nurses employed by the NHS in England for the first time in 2004. A table showing the number of school nurses employed by each primary care trust in England from 2004-07 has been placed in the Library.

Plastic Surgery: Finance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on funding for orbicularis oculi muscle strips.

Ann Keen: Funding for orbicularis oculi muscle strips is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs), as they have their own policies covering the circumstances in which this treatment may be available on the national health service. Most policies are based around ensuring that treatment of this kind is available where there is a clinical need to secure physical or psychological health.

Radiography: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) part-trained and  (b) fully-trained radiographers were employed by the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Foundation Trust in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The requested information can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: headcount of radiography staff in the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as at 30 September each specified year 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 All radiography staff 61 66 73 71 73 80 80 82 88 84 81 
			 Qualified Staff 51 56 60 58 59 65 68 69 75 70 70 
			 Manager 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Therapist 45 54 58 56 57 63 66 68 73 68 68 
			 Technician 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Tutor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Unqualified Staff 10 10 13 13 14 15 12 13 13 14 11 
			 Student/Trainee 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 6 8 6 
			 Helper/Assistant 10 10 13 13 14 15 8 8 7 6 5 
			  Note: Enhanced validation processes have led to the removal of duplicate records from the non-medical census (from 2006 onwards). Although percentages were small (less than 1 per cent.), comparisons with years prior to this need to be treated with caution.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census.

Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease: Out of Area Treatment

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients resident in Wales  (a) received rehabilitation treatment at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease, Bath and  (b) were referred for such treatment but failed to receive sanction for the referral in each of the last eight years for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 28 April 2008
	 Information about the number of patients resident in Wales, who received rehabilitation treatment at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease in Bath, is not held centrally. In addition, information about patients resident in Wales who failed to receive sanction for referral for rehabilitation treatment, at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease is not collected centrally. It is the responsibility of Welsh local health boards to commission and fund rehabilitation services to meet the needs of their local populations, including the commissioning of treatment at centres in England.

Smoking: Public Places

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of the smoking ban on  (a) public health and  (b) his Department's expenditure; and what mechanisms he has put in place to measure these effects.

Dawn Primarolo: Smokefree legislation was introduced primarily to protect people from the harm of second-hand smoke in enclosed parts of work and public places.
	Research has been commissioned which will evaluate various aspects of the impact of the smokefree law in England; the resulting reports will be published once completed and peer reviewed. While it is still too early for any of the Department's commissioned research to have been published, in October 2007 Cancer Research UK and the Tobacco Control Centre published results from a small scale study of the impact of the new law. That research found that hospitality workers exposure to harmful second-hand smoke may have fallen by 95 per cent. since 1 July 2007.
	An assessment of the costs and benefits of smokefree legislation is set out in the Final Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), entitled "Final Regulatory Impact Assessment to be made under Powers in Part 1 Chapter 1 of the Health Act 2006" was published by the Department in December 2006.
	Copies of the RIA are in the Library.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carers' Allowances

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the level of the carer premium in the preparation of the national carer strategy.

Anne McGuire: The Government's review of the National Carers Strategy is examining all aspects of benefits for carers. The conclusions of the review are due to be published in summer 2008.

Children: Maintenance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms for redress are available to people in circumstances where maintenance orders made by the High Court are not fully implemented by the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: The Child Support Agency is not responsible for implementing maintenance orders made by the High Court. Therefore such mechanisms would not be appropriate.

Departmental Standards

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to report on his Department's performance against public service agreements with deadlines of March 2008.

Anne McGuire: For all PSA targets with deadlines on or before March 2008, a final assessment will wherever possible be provided in the 2008 departmental report, expected to be published in mid May. Where time lags mean that a final assessment cannot be provided, progress to date will be reported. A final assessment will be given in the 2008 Autumn Performance Report or subsequent departmental report as soon as data availability allows.

Housing Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was allocated to each  (a) London local authority and  (b) region of the UK under the discretionary payment scheme in each of the last five years; and what proportion of funding allocated was used in each case.

James Plaskitt: The information has been placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have issued on the maximum distance a tenant in receipt of housing benefit in the private rented sector may be required to move as a result of the introduction of local housing allowance and the use of broad rental market areas as a basis for calculating allowance levels.

James Plaskitt: Where a customer chooses to live is entirely a matter for the individual and their family, therefore the Department for Work and Pensions or its agencies have not issued any guidance on the maximum distance a tenant in receipt of housing benefit in the private rented sector may be required to move.
	The aim of the Local Housing Allowance is to give customers a choice as to whether to rent accommodation cheaper than their Local Housing Allowance rate and keep the excess (£15 a week maximum) or be able to rent a more expensive property and pay additional rent from their own income.
	Local Housing Allowance rates are set by rent officers at the median level within each Broad Rental Market Area. This means that exactly half of the rental properties within any Broad Rental Market are affordable to people claiming housing benefit.

Housing Benefit: Standards

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a housing benefit application was in each year since 2002-03.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Average days to process housing benefit and council tax  benefit claims 
			   Number 
			 2002-03 55 
			 2003-04 50 
			 2004-05 45 
			 2005-06 37 
			 2006-07 33 
			 2007-08(1) 28 
			 (1) April to September 2007.  Source: Local Authority Management Information provided to DWP.

Housing Benefit: Standards

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a housing benefit application in the worst performing 15 per cent. of local authorities was as at March 2008.

James Plaskitt: Information for March 2008 is not yet available.

Jobcentre Plus: Leaflets

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department issues to Jobcentre Plus offices about their  (a) stock,  (b) display and  (c) use of public information leaflets.

Stephen Timms: The stock and display of information products in Jobcentre Plus offices is governed by the customer information display standards guidance. This guidance is available on the Jobcentre Plus intranet site. All Jobcentre Plus information leaflets, together with a specified number of DWP information leaflets, are mandatory stock items. The guidance stipulates which Jobcentre Plus leaflets are mandatory for display in Jobcentre Plus offices.
	Separate internal guidance is available on the Jobcentre Plus intranet site that explains to our staff which public information leaflets are most appropriate to offer to an individual across a range of possible scenarios.

Members: Correspondence

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer Question 185261, tabled by the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire on 4 February 2008, on children in workless households.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 4 March 2008
	 I replied to the hon. Member's question on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1858W.

Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension traces were carried out by the Pension Tracing Service in each year since 2005.

Mike O'Brien: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Successful pension traces since 2005-06 
			   Total successful trace 
			 2005-06 30,458 
			 2006-07 40,165 
			 2007-08 64,852 
			  Notes: 1. The Pension Service achieved the PSA target of 60,000 successful traces during 2007-08. 2. In compiling this data an error has been identified in the data given in my reply to the hon. Member on 22 January 2008, Official Report, column 1895W. The response said that there had been 40,160 successful pension traces in 2006-07. This should have said that there had been 40,165 traces. I apologise to the hon. Member for this inadvertent error.  Source: Pension Tracing System

Winter Fuel Payments: Swansea

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Swansea East constituency are eligible for winter fuel payments.

Mike O'Brien: In winter 2006-07, 11,270 people in the Swansea, East constituency received a winter fuel payment. Figures for winter 2007-08 are not yet available but we expect the numbers to be similar.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	 Source:
	Information directorate 100 per cent. data.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Video Conferencing

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will set a target to increase the use of video-conferencing by the Government Equalities Office to reduce the need to travel to meetings.

Barbara Follett: GEO is a small department and its staff are based in Eland House in London. The vast majority of meetings are held there or in other Government buildings within walking distance. The GEO's needs for routine travel are limited and its staff are committed to minimise travelling and to use videoconferencing and teleconferencing whenever appropriate. In these circumstances GEO has no current proposals to set a target.

Females: Marriage

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of the financial effect on women of changing their surnames on marriage, with particular reference to charges for amending official documents; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 24 April 2008
	The Government Equalities Office have made no assessment of the financial effect of women changing their surname on marriage.

OLYMPICS

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what payments the  (a) London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and  (b) the Olympic Delivery Authority have made to (i) Mandate Communications and (ii) AS Biss and Co since their establishment; on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are committed to undertake a proactive programme of engagement with central, regional, devolved, and local government. To assist this process, both organisations have procured the services of Mandate Communications (formerly known as AS Biss) to provide research and event management support. ODA spend to date with AS Biss/Mandate Communications is 6,383.65 inclusive of VAT. LOCOG, which is a privately funded company, has a separate arrangement with Mandate.

Departmental Written Questions

David Davies: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by her in the last six months.

Tessa Jowell: Information on the average number of days taken to answer parliamentary questions is not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her latest estimate is of the cost to construct the Olympic Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games; and for what reasons this estimate differs from initial estimates.

Tessa Jowell: The budget for the Aquatics Centre is 242 million. This iconic venue, designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, will provide state of the art facilities and a world class permanent legacy facility for elite and community use. The contract for the Aquatics Centre also includes constructing the land bridge that will be the main gateway into the Olympic Park and will also form part of the roof of the venue. The budget for both the Aquatics Centre and the bridge is 303 million, and this has not changed throughout the procurement process. This figure includes the contract price, allowance for inflation, an element of project management costs, VAT and the costs to convert the venue for long-term legacy use (and associated VAT and contingency). This budget is within the ODA's 6.090 billion baseline budget as set out in the statement made in December.
	The Bid Book estimate for the Aquatics Centre was $117 million at 2004 prices (approximately 73 million at a USD/GBP exchange rate of 1.6). However, this did not include inflation, legacy transformation costs, project management costs or VAT.
	The overall venues budget remains broadly in line with the Bid Book when an allowance is made for inflation, project management costs, transformation costs and VAT.

SCOTLAND

Electronic Government

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's  (a) internal and  (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of publications is carried out electronically.

David Cairns: Most ministerial and internal correspondence is now undertaken electronically although formal mechanisms are not in place to monitor the method of correspondence.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Pension Credit

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons on average were eligible for pension credit in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 21 April 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	In Northern Ireland pension credit administration is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Drugs

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 56W, on Afghanistan: drugs, what steps  (a) UK and  (b) US troops are taking to support the government of Afghanistan's counter-narcotics effort.

Des Browne: As part of the UN-authorised, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) British and American troops do not have a direct role in counter narcotics. They can, however, provide indirect support in accordance with the NATO Operational Plan for Afghanistan, such as intelligence, logistics and planning assistance.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the decision was made to put armour on the Jackal M-WMIK vehicle; whether all the M-WMIK vehicles have been armoured; whether any M-WMIK vehicles have been armoured after they were manufactured or delivered to theatre; and how much armouring each vehicle has cost.

Bob Ainsworth: The requirement to protect Jackal was a Key User Requirement and was stated within the Business Case, in May 2007. All vehicles delivered to the operational theatre are fitted with armour (during production), while some vehicles within the UK training fleet are not, but will be fitted retrospectively. The armour kit costs 83,000 per vehicle installation.

Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft lifts have been ordered; and how many will be required for each future aircraft carrier.

Bob Ainsworth: Each Future Aircraft Carrier requires two aircraft lifts. Four have been ordered in total.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were deployed on operations, broken down by location, in the latest period for which figures are available.

Des Browne: The following table provides the number of UK service personnel deployed on operations by location at 21 April 2008. The number of personnel in theatre will naturally fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors.
	
		
			  Number of personnel deployed by location at 21 April 2008( 1) 
			  Location  Number 
			 Total (2)14,810 
			  of which:  
			 Afghanistan(3) 9,100 
			 Iraq 3,800 
			 At sea 430 
			 Qatar 410 
			 Cyprus 280 
			 Kuwait 250 
			 Oman 210 
			 Kosovo 140 
			 Bahrain 70 
			 Other 30 
			 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are shown separately. Other countries with fewer than 10 personnel per country include Bosnia, Georgia, Nepal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. With the exception of Bosnia, personnel in these countries are participating in smaller UN operations, e.g. we contribute five military personnel to the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). (2) Figures for Iraq and Afghanistan have been rounded to the nearest 100 for operational security reasons. Other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding, the total is not equal to the sum of the individual locations. (3 )Figures for Afghanistan are artificially high due to the handover period while a relief in place (RIP) is in operation. The operational establishment for Afghanistan is 7,800.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Queen's Colour Squadron will cease ceremonial duties prior to its deployment to Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: The Queen's Colour Squadron will cease ceremonial duties once it has represented the RAF at the state opening of Parliament later this year prior to deployment to Afghanistan in February 2009. The precise date of this deployment has yet to be decided.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people who applied to join the armed services in 2006-07 were rejected because they did not meet fitness criteria.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of armed forces applicants in 2006-07 who were recorded as rejected before entering service because they were classified as permanently unfit were as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Naval service 312 
			 Army 825 
			 RAF 365 
			 Total 1,502 
		
	
	The figures exclude those who were temporarily unfit at the point of application but whose fitness later improved.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific training in tropical medicine medical officers undertaking the Army's Entry Officers course receive.

Derek Twigg: Medical officers undertaking the Army's Entry Officers course undergo two days of training in travel medicine. Specific topics for study include: Malaria and its prevention, practical parasitology, blood borne viruses, Leishmaniasis and its prevention, immunisation schedules and sources of information for travellers. Another day is spent at the Institute of Naval Medicine where students look at the effects of heat and cold injuries. In addition to these specific topics all subjects on the 13 week course include an environmental component which incorporates the treatment of casualties in hostile and remote situations.
	Students also undertake public health training which includes looking at the needs of refugees and misplaced persons and their associated temporary camps.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 791W, on armoured fighting vehicles, how many individual shipments were required to transport the first tranche of Mastiff armoured vehicles into the theatre of operations; and what the  (a) lowest,  (b) highest,  (c) mean and  (d) mode number was of individual shipments of Mastiff armoured vehicles to (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan during the delivery period of the first tranche.

Bob Ainsworth: The chosen method for the deployment of all tranche 1 Mastiff vehicles was by commercial air.
	The number of individual consignments to Iraq was 21 and to Afghanistan was 18.
	I am withholding the details of individual shipments since disclosure could reveal the strength and capability of UK forces operating in theatre, and could prejudice operational security.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 791W, on armoured fighting vehicles, how many individual shipments were required to transport all Bulldog armoured vehicles into the theatre of operations; and what the  (a) lowest,  (b) highest,  (c) mean and  (d) mode number was of individual shipments of Bulldog armoured vehicles to (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan during the delivery period.

Bob Ainsworth: Bulldog armoured vehicles have not been deployed to Afghanistan.
	The number of individual shipments required to transport all Bulldog armoured vehicles to Iraq was three.
	I am withholding the details of individual shipments since disclosure could reveal the strength and capability of UK forces operating in theatre, and could prejudice operational security.

Defence: Internet

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the UK's contribution is to NATO's Cyber Defence Management Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: As part of the Department's cooperation on cyber defence operations with our allies, the MOD, together with other Government Departments, are fully engaged with the development of NATO's Cyber Defence Management Authority. Such cooperation would include the sharing of intelligence, experience and expertise. However, it is Government policy not to make comments on details of protective measures, techniques and strategies applied to protecting communication and information systems as these could assist potential attackers.

Departmental Publications

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is issued to members of his Department on the authorship and publication on the internet of material relating to their official duties; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Civil Service Code, the Civil Service Management Code and Propriety Guidance on Government Communications, all provide guidance to staff on the publication of material relating to their official duties. Copies of each of these are in the libraries of the House. They are also available on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/.
	Armed forces and MOD staff publishing material on the internet as part of their official duties, for example on the MOD's own website, are governed by a number of internal MOD documents including training manuals and style guides.

HMS Southampton

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where  (a) HMS Southampton and  (b) HMS Exeter have been deployed in 2008; what plans he has for further deployments prior to their decommissioning; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: HMS Southampton and HMS Exeter have been engaged in Maritime Security operations in UK waters during 2008. I am withholding information about these ships' future programmes as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Land Rovers have been lost due to damage sustained from an improvised explosive device or landmine in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan;
	(2)  how many WIMIK equipped vehicles have been lost due to damage sustained from an improvised explosive device or landmine in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan;
	(3)  how many Vector patrol vehicles have been lost due to damage sustained from an improvised explosive device or landmine in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan;
	(4)  how many service personnel have been  (a) injured and  (b) killed by improvised explosive devices or landmines in WIMIK equipped vehicles in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq;
	(5)  how many service personnel have been  (a) injured and  (b) killed by improvised explosive devices or landmines in Vector patrol vehicles in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq;
	(6)  how many service personnel have been  (a) injured and  (b) killed by improvised explosive devices or landmines in Land Rovers in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the details as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Iraq: Ports

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which projects his Department  (a) initiated,  (b) oversaw,  (c) directed and  (d) funded in connection with the modernisation of the port of Umm Qasr; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Since 2003 the British Military have initiated, overseen and directed 15 reconstruction projects in the vicinity of Umm Qasr to a value of approximately 500,000. These projects have been funded by the Multi-National Force Commanders Emergency Response Programme (CERPs).
	Regeneration plans for the port are now being led and co-ordinated by the government of Iraq, supported by UK and US personnel in Baghdad and southern Iraq.

Karian and Box

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of each contract awarded by his Department to Karian and Box since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: There are no records held centrally of any contract awarded to Karian and Box by the Ministry of Defence since 1997.
	Information on contracts awarded by Defence agencies, top level budget areas, trading funds, joint headquarters, single service commands and military units is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

War Graves: Seas and Oceans

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government have taken to protect military shipwrecks as final resting places.

Derek Twigg: The Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA) 1986 allows the MOD to protect the remains of aircraft and ships lost while in military service from unauthorised interference. The latest tranche of wrecks designated under the Act will come into force on 1 May 2008, raising the total number of designations to 58.

WALES

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many freedom of information requests made to his Department were  (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days,  (b) not answered and  (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information in each year since the Act came into force.

Paul Murphy: The Ministry of Justice has published two annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) in 2005 and 2006. These reports can be found at the following address:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm
	The 2007 annual report is currently being drafted for publication in June 2008. However, statistics on requests received in each quarter of 2007 have been published and can be found via the MOJ website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformationquarterly.htm
	The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public bodies to respond to written requests within 20 working days of receipt, but allows additional time for the consideration of the public interest in disclosing the requested information.
	The published reports provide statistics on the number of non-routine requests received during each period where: an initial response was provided within 20 working days; an initial response was given outside this time but a public interest test extension had been applied; an initial response was given outside this time and no public interest test extension was applied, and where no initial se had been given at the time the statistics were collected.
	The 2006 annual report provides statistics on the duration of the public interest test extensions in that year. Corresponding statistics for 2007 will be available when the 2007 annual report is published.
	Information requests where deadlines were extended beyond 40 days is not collected in the form requested; however the proportion of resolvable requests the Department answered in time (i.e. meeting the deadline or with a permitted extension) in 2007 was 89 per cent.
	For 2005 and 2006, the reports show the number of requests received by the Department which were withheld, either in full or in part, where an FOI exemption or EIR exception was applied. For 2007, the number of such requests was three based on aggregated quarterly statistics from 2007. Requests withheld solely under the exemption applicable to information available by other means are not included; statistics on these are not collected centrally because they are dealt with as routine business.

Departmental Manpower

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) permanent civil service posts,  (b) permanent non-civil service posts and  (c) agency workers there were in his Department in each month since May 2005.

Paul Murphy: The following table shows the number of staff employed by the Wales Office from May 2005.
	Details for agency staff were not kept in the format for the financial year 2005-06 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of staff employed from April 2005 until March 2008 
			   
			   Permanent civil servants  Permanent non civil servants  Temporary staff  Agency staff 
			  2005 
			 May 51 2 2  
			 June 49 3 2  
			 July 51 3 2  
			 August 51 3 2  
			 September 49 3 2  
			 October 53 3 1  
			 November 52 3 1  
			 December 55 3 1  
			  
			  2006 
			 January 58 3 1  
			 February 58 3 1  
			 March 55 3 0  
			 April 55 3 0 1 
			 May 58 3 0 1 
			 June 58 3 0 1 
			 July 58 3 0 1 
			 August 57 3 0 1 
			 September 56 3 0 1 
			 October 58 3 1 1 
			 November 59 3 1 1 
			 December 56 3 1 1 
			  
			  2007 
			 January 57 3 1 1 
			 February 59 3 1 1 
			 March 60 3 1 1 
			 April 56 3 3 0 
			 May 54 3 3 0 
			 June 55 3 3 0 
			 July 55 3 3 0 
			 August 51 3 3 0 
			 September 49 3 3 0 
			 October 51 3 3 0 
			 November 51 3 3 0 
			 December 46 3 4 0 
			  2008 
			 January 51 4 3 0 
			 February 51 3 3 0 
			 March 49 3 3 1

Departmental Pay

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total cost was of  (a) salaries for permanent civil service posts,  (b) salaries for permanent non-civil service posts and  (c) payments to temporary or agency workers in his Department in each month since May 2005.

Paul Murphy: Salary costs for the Wales Office are broken down in the format requested in the following table.
	The figures for agency staff, in the financial year 2005-06, were not kept in this format and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs, however the annual figure for agency staff in this period was 91,923.
	
		
			  Salary costs from April 2005 until March 2008 
			   
			   Permanent civil servants  Permanent non civil servants  Temporary staff  Agency staff 
			  2005 
			 May 164,476 5,074 3,306  
			 June 160,162 8,876 3,306  
			 July 173,839 9,010 3,306  
			 August 180,015 11,514 3,306  
			 September 158,266 11,763 3,306  
			 October 192,462 11,763 1,720  
			 November 186,270 11,763 1,720  
			 December 193,780 11,763 1,720  
			  
			  2006 
			 January 200,585 11,763 1,720  
			 February 196,319 11,763 1,720  
			 March 189,270 11,763   
			 April 180,213 11,759  2,016 
			 May 199,066 11,759  5,398 
			 June 196,821 11,864  2,016 
			 July 203,071 12,000  6,302 
			 August 187,313 11,846  5,336 
			 September 177,452 11,846  4,326 
			 October 228,393 11,846 1,760 2,903 
			 November 167,920 11,873 1,760 5,226 
			 December 191,243 11,873 1,760 1,240 
			  
			  2007 
			 January 191,153 11,873 1,760 1,167 
			 February 204,309 11,873 1,760 1,246 
			 March 207,198 11,872 1,760 1,046 
			 April 194,080 12,068 4,299 0 
			 May 191,337 13,138 5,318 0 
			 June 187,952 12,372 5,318 0 
			 July 190,462 12,978 5,318 0 
			 August 183,428 18,746 3,005 0 
			 September 176,563 12,254 5,318 0 
			 October 189,863 12,254 5,727 0 
			 November 210,297 13,045 5,454 0 
			 December 173,845 12,254 6,911 0 
			  2008 
			 January 181,949 22,246 6,507 0 
			 February 180,004 8,199 7,449 0 
			 March 180,156 25,769 6,605 539

Departmental Written Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the last six months.

Paul Murphy: To provide the answer in the format requested would incur disproportionate cost. However over the last six months the Wales Office has responded to written questions on average within four days.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parking

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether provision is planned in the House of Commons car park for installing facilities for re-charging electric or hybrid vehicles.

Nick Harvey: There are no plans to make any special provision but the Speaker will ask the Administration Committee to look into this matter.

TRANSPORT

A12

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many representations she has received from Essex county council on the adequacy of the A12 since 2005;
	(2)  if she will allocate funds to the Highways Agency to hold an inquiry into the adequacy of the A12 from London to Ipswich;
	(3)  what plans she has for improvements to the A12 through Essex to Ipswich; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  if she will allocate funds to Essex county council to undertake improvements to the A12 through Essex; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: holding answer 28 April 2008
	The A12 through Essex is considered to be primarily of regional importance. Decisions on such schemes are made on the basis of advice from regional bodies, including the Regional Assembly and the Regional Development Agency, on the priorities for funding within an indicative budget. The advice provided by the East of England regional bodies in 2006, which Ministers have accepted, did not prioritise any A12 schemes in the period to 2016.
	The Government intend, by the summer, to invite each region to carry out a further review of its funding priorities. This will provide an opportunity for those who support improvements to the A12 to press their case within the region.
	Officials in the department have regular meetings with Essex county council and have received correspondence over the period in question from both individual councillors and the council itself.

A46: Nottinghamshire

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will amend the proposals for the dualling of the A46 between Newark and Widmerpool to keep the project within budget.

Tom Harris: The current proposals for dualling the A46 between Newark and Widmerpool forms one of the highway schemes which is planned to be funded from the East Midlands' Regional Funding Allocation for major transport schemes. The region is considering how to accommodate the A46 scheme within its recommended programme of schemes in the light of emerging cost pressures. We will carefully consider the region's advice both for the programme as a whole and in relation to the A46 scheme.

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payments Network Rail made to  (a) Mandate Communications and  (b) AS Biss in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his questions:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London
	NW1 2EE

Heathrow Airport: BAA

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what meetings took place in 2007 between her Department's  (a) officials and  (b) Ministers and representatives of BAA to discuss the project for the development of Heathrow Airport; and on what date each took place;
	(2)  if she will publish the minutes or notes of each meeting that took place in 2007 between her Department's officials and representatives of BAA to discuss the project for the development of Heathrow Airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 24 April 2008
	 No such meetings took place between Ministers and BAA. Notes of all meetings with officials prior to the issue of the recent Heathrow consultation document have been released in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act. That information is on, or can be requested via, the Department's FOI response website (March 2008). I will see that the hon. Member is sent copies of all the relevant documents.

Heathrow Airport: Consultants

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much her Department paid to WS Atkins for its work on the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow resulting in the October 2007 technical report entitled Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow: Population Exposure to Air Pollution; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how much her Department paid to WS Atkins for its peer review work which resulted in the November 2007 report entitled Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow: Demonstrating Confidence in the PSDH Air Quality Work; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 24 April 2008
	The two reports in question were commissioned as part of the suite of supporting technical documents to the recent Heathrow consultation. The work to produce them was part of the contract with Atkins to provide technical assistance throughout the project on local air quality issues and has not been separately costed.

Kemble to Swindon Railway Line

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will publish the Network Rail evaluation of proposals to re-double the Kemble to Swindon line, including any cost predictions.

Tom Harris: The Office of Rail Regulation is currently evaluating proposals published by Network Rail this month for enhancing both the North Cotswold and the Stroud Valley lines and expects to publish its preliminary determination in June 2008.

Kemble to Swindon Railway Line

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which  (a) hon. Members and  (b) local authorities have made representations to (i) her and (ii) Network Rail on the re-doubling of (A) the Kemble to Swindon line and (B) the North Cotswold line.

Tom Harris: The following hon. Members have made written representations to the Department in the last three years:
	 SwindonKemble line
	Geoffrey Clinton-Brown MP
	David Drew MP
	Mark Harper MP
	Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP
	Laurence Robertson MP
	 North Cotswold line
	David Cameron MP
	Geoffrey Clinton-Brown MP
	David Drew MP
	Michael Foster MP
	Peter Luff MP
	John Maples MP
	We have received no written representations from local authorities about either line during this period.
	My hon. Friend will need to contact the chief executive about representations made to Network Rail. His address is:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London
	NW1 2EE

Lorries

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) foreign and  (b) British-registered lorries made at least one journey on UK roads in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is not centrally collected.

M5

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on proposals to modify junction 12 of the M5; and what plans she has for consultation prior to the introduction of any modifications.

Tom Harris: Committed developments in Gloucester will increase pressure on the M5 junction 12. Following the first release of funds from developers, the Highways Agency is about to commission the preparation of design works in respect of an improvement at the junction.
	The Highways Agency will be developing a communications strategy, to include stakeholder involvement. This will provide an opportunity for interested parties to see and discuss the improvement scheme proposals.

North Cotswold Railway Line

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used to  (a) accept the North Cotswolds line and  (b) reject the Stroud Valleys line for future re-doubling.

Tom Harris: The Government are supportive of rail growth to meet the needs of our growing economy and we have specified and funded the high level improvements in capacity, safety and reliability required by 2014. It is for the rail industry to determine the enhancement schemes required to deliver this specification, subject to independent evaluation by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
	The ORR is currently evaluating proposals published by Network Rail this month for enhancing both the North Cotswold and the Stroud Valley lines and expects to publish its preliminary determination in June 2008.

Ports: Automatic Number Plate Recognition

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to install number plate recognition systems at all major British ports.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible, for reasons of operational security, to divulge the current level of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems currently in use at British ports. It is however, the Government's intention to ensure that ANPR systems are installed in all major British ports in the future, subject to the necessary funding being made available.

Public Transport: Yorkshire

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the tram trains for use on the Penistone line will be built in the UK.

Tom Harris: Northern Rail will undertake the procurement of tram-trains for the Penistone line trial, acting in accordance with European procurement regulations.

Railway Stations: Halifax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the number of passengers who used Halifax railway station in each of the last five years.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) publishes data on station usage which is available from their website:
	www.rail-reg.gov.uk

Railways

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility and cost of a maglev rail system.

Tom Harris: In the preparation of the 2007 rail White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, the Department for Transport commissioned a report into maglev systems. This report reviewed a number of features of maglev systems including safety, environmental, and engineering feasibility. A copy of this report is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk
	The only operational maglev in the world had costs three times higher than equivalent high speed lines.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the division of responsibilities is between  (a) her Department and  (b) Network Rail on (i) the safeguarding of lines for possible future expansion of the network, (ii) the building of new lines, (iii) the collection of data relating to passenger numbers before and after new lines have been opened and (iv) decisions relating to the electrification of existing lines; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Regional and local planning authorities are responsible for the safeguarding of alignments via spatial plans. The Secretary of State for Transport may issue safeguarding Directions under the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995. The Office of Rail Regulation regulates the disposal of land owned by Network Rail.
	Towards a Sustainable Transport System describes a new, multi-modal approach to transport planning. Network Rail, working with the rail industry, will provide a view on the ways in which the railway can contribute most effectively to the Secretary of State's wider transport objectives for the period from 2014. This may include new lines and electrification proposals.
	Passenger demand is forecast by the sponsor of a scheme and train operators collect data on subsequent patronage.

Railways: Death

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths of  (a) railway workers and  (b) others occurred as a result of electrocution by the third rail in each year since 1997.

Tom Harris: The number of railway fatalities caused as a result of electrocution by the third rail in each year since 1997 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   (a) Railway employees  (b) Others (members of the public) 
			 1997 0 9 
			 1998 0 8 
			 1999 0 13 
			 2000 0 16 
			 2001 0 6 
			 2002 1 9 
			 2003 1 12 
			 2004 0 5 
			 2005 0 6 
			 2006 1 12 
			 2007(1) 0 4 
			 (1 )The data for 2007 is provisional.  Source: Data provided by the Office of Rail Regulation 
		
	
	Most fatalities result from members of the public trespassing on railway infrastructure.

Railways: Electric Cables

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway overhead lines fell down in each year since 1997.

Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his questions:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London
	NW1 2EE

Railways: Theft

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much copper from signalling cables on the railways has been stolen in each of the last five years; how many thefts there were in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) Scotland,  (c) North East of England,  (d) Yorkshire and Humber,  (e) South East,  (f) Midlands and  (g) South West in each of those years; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: This information is not held by the Department for Transport but by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at: British Transport Police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, e-mail: parliament@btp.pnn.police.uk

Roads

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the Nichols costs review of Highways Agency road schemes to be completed; and whether the review will be published on her Department's and the Highways Agency's websites.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency is currently in the final stages of completing revised cost estimates for their major roads projects. We expect to be in a position to publish these on the Department for Transport's and the Highways Agency's websites in the late spring.

Roads: Tax Evasion

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road tax evaders there were in  (a) 2000-01 and  (b) 2005-06; what proportion of these were prosecuted in 2005-06; and what the loss was of revenue as a result of such tax evasions in 2005-06.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There was no roadside survey to measure road tax evaders conducted in 2000-01. The nearest estimate available is from the 2002 roadside survey. The estimated number of unlicensed vehicles at that time was 1.76 million vehicles, representing an estimated loss of revenue through evasion of 193 million.
	The 2005 roadside survey estimated the number of unlicensed vehicles as 1.55 million, with an estimated revenue loss figure of 147 million.
	In 2005-06 DVLA brought 144,884 successful prosecutions at magistrates' court relating to the use of unlicensed vehicles. A further 516,808 cases were dealt with via out of court settlements.

Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2008 , Official Report, columns 1034-35W, on rolling stock, what requests received from train operating companies for extra rolling stock have been rejected since 1 January 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 24 April 2008
	The Department for Transport has frequent discussions with train operators on a range of issues, including the possibility of providing extra rolling stock. However, no formal requests to approve leases for additional vehicles have been rejected.
	As part of the HLOS process, the Department for Transport is in discussions with train operators about delivering 1,300 additional vehicles.

Rolling Stock: Northampton

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has for the improvement of the rolling stock on the London to Northampton train service.

Tom Harris: London Midland are committed to replacing the class 321 electric multiple units with brand new Siemens Desiro class 350 electric multiple units, on services between London and Northampton as part of its franchise.

Rolling Stock: Standards

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she takes to ensure that passengers' seating comfort is taken into account in train design; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport is working with the industry to develop a whole life cost model for evaluating the design of rail vehicles. Passenger seating comfort is one of the many factors within the model which recognises the significance of comfortable seating in encouraging the use of rail services. The model also balances the desire for spacious seating against the requirement to provide a sufficient number of seats.
	During the procurement of the Intercity Express trains the Department will be working with passenger groups to assess the relative comfort of the various proposals for passenger seating.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Hemp

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) estimate his Department has made of the costs and  (b) assessment he has made of the merits of growing industrial hemp in England, with particular reference to the production of cellulose for (i) biodegradable plastics and (ii) paper manufacture.

Phil Woolas: Approximately 1,416 hectares of industrial hemp are grown and processed in England, mainly for the bio-composite, construction, and animal bedding industries. Such end uses are driven by the market and represent the most cost beneficial application of this high value raw material.
	The DEFRA renewable materials LINK programme is set up to assist consortia of academia and industry bring innovative technologies based on novel crops to market. New products based on hemp and hemp fibre would be eligible for consideration for LINK funding.

Agriculture: Hemp

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the merits of a licensing regime for farmers wishing to grow industrial hemp.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The United Kingdom already has a licensing regime for growing industrial hemp.

Agriculture: Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the likely environmental impacts arising from the application of slurry and poultry manure to non-sandy farmland in the days immediately following the end of closed periods proposed for nitrate vulnerable zones.

Phil Woolas: This will be included in the Government's response to the consultation, which I intend to announce and publish before Parliament breaks for summer recess.

Air Pollution: Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent consideration the Government have given to lowering the maximum permissible levels of air pollution; and what assessment the Government have made of the effects of increased use of diesel vehicles on levels of air pollution.

Jonathan R Shaw: A new ambient air quality directive, due to come into force in May 2008, consolidates existing EU legislation and includes new controls over very fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), where the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that there is no safe level of exposure. The main elements are a 'backstop' limit value, to be met everywhere by 2015, and an 'exposure concentration obligation' to be met across urban background locations (as an average), also by 2015. The directive must be transposed into UK law within two years of it coming into force.
	Estimates of future air pollution emissions from transport include assumptions modelling the increase in diesel car market share, with an assumption that this will stabilise at 42 per cent. in 2010. These estimates are used for assessing new vehicle emissions standards and the revised National Air Quality Strategy, published in 2007. Diesel cars currently emit significantly higher levels of both particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen than petrol cars. However, the recently agreed Euro 5 and 6 emissions standards will reduce particulate emissions from new diesel cars to comparable levels to petrol cars by 2011 and substantially reduce the difference between petrol and diesel NOx emissions by 2015.

Angling: Licensing

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) full and  (b) concessionary cost of a (i) coarse and trout and (ii) salmon and sea trout rod licence was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows the full and concessionary cost of a (i) non-migratory trout and coarse and (ii) salmon and sea trout licence in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   
			   Salmon and sea trout  Non migratory trout and coarse fish 
			   Full  Concessionary  Full  Concessionary 
			 2004-05 62.00 31.00 23.00 11.50 
			 2005-06 63.50 31.75 23.50 11.75 
			 2006-07 65.00 32.50 24.00 12.00 
			 2007-08 66.50 33.35 24.50 12.25 
			 2008-09 68.00 45.00 25.00 16.75 
		
	
	I should point out that the Environment Agency is under no legal obligation to offer rod licences to any class of persons at concessionary duty rates. Both the agency and I recognise that the increase in concessionary duty rates for this year is significant and the agency has publicly stated that it will use a significant proportion of the monies raised by the higher duty rates to improve access to angling for the disabled and senior anglers. I welcome this and I will seek evidence from the agency that it has honoured that commitment.

Biofuels: Marketing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to raise awareness of the effects of more widespread use of biofuels.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have consulted widely on their biofuel support policies since 2004. On each occasion they have drawn attention to the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of increasing levels of biofuel use. Ministers and officials have made regular presentations on this subject at conferences and other public events, and the Government have held a large number of stakeholder workshops which have been well-attended by representatives from a wide range of different interest groups.
	Information on biofuels has also been made available via the Department for Transport's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/
	and, in recent months, via the Renewable Fuels Agency's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/
	The Renewable Fuels Agency will report regularly on the effects of the biofuels used under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). These reports will be made available via the RFA's website.

Climate Change: Seas and Oceans

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has conducted into the impact of the melting of ice-sheets; and what estimates his Department has made of the lowest and highest potential rise in sea levels as a result of such melting.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA funds research at the Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC) aimed at improving the representation of ice sheets in climate models, and (through the DEFRA/Ministry of Defence funded MOHC Integrated Climate Programme) scientists at the MOHC are working with the wider academic community to study future changes in ice-sheet volume and sea level. DEFRA also funds research into the potential impacts of sea level rise on the United Kingdom through the UK Climate Impacts Programme.
	The Government advise the operating authorities to factor a predicted change in the rate of sea level rise from the current 2.5 to 4 millimetres per year from 13 to 15 millimetres per year by the end of the century, depending on location, into the design of present-day river and coastal defences. As part of a precautionary approach, this advice includes predicted land level changes as well as predicted changes in global average sea level.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and its executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is not appropriate to disclose values for staff, other than those whose details are reported on in Remuneration Reports in the Department's Resource Accounts. A copy of the Resource Accounts for the year 2006-07 can be found in the Library.

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many respondents took part in each consultation held by his Department in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Departments publish consultations as an integral part of their policy development work. In compliance with the Government's Code of Practice on Consultation, departments publish summaries of the responses received to their consultation exercises. These state how may responses were received.
	Information is not held centrally on how many respondents took part in each consultation for over the last three years. To acquire this information would be at disproportionate cost. The number of responses to DEFRA consultations varies greatly, from 12 in the case of our Consultation on the Reform of Fruit and Vegetable Regime to 16,919 responses for the Climate Change Bill.
	Since January 2005 until December 2007 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has launched 289 public consultations.
	The breakdown, per year, is as follows:
	
		
			  Calendar year  Number 
			 2005 100 
			 2006 108 
			 2007 81

Fisheries: Quotas

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will ensure that compensation is provided to under-10 metre fishing fleets when new catch limits are in place.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 28 April 2008
	Monthly catch limits of quota stocks for the under 10 metre fleet are set by the Marine and Fisheries Agency, taking into account the amount of quota available to the under 10 metre fleet and estimates of the likely pattern of fishing activity. The proposed limits for 2008 were published earlier this year. These are subject to revision following discussion at quarterly meetings with representatives of the fishing fleet at quarterly meetings around the coast and in London.
	I have recently consulted under 10 metre fishermen on a package of measures intended to bring fleet capacity more into line with fishing opportunity. My officials are developing detailed proposals and I expect to be able to publish a formal consultation on these proposals in the summer of this year. Compensation payments do not form part of those proposals.

Fisheries: Quotas

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for discussions between his Department and the Marine and Fisheries Agency with regard to changes to the under-10 metre fleet catch limits.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 28 April 2008
	DEFRA officials and the Marine and Fisheries Agency discuss fisheries management issues, including the under 10 metre catch limits, on a regular basis as required. For this reason, there is no set timetable for discussions.

Fisheries: Sustainable Development

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration has been given to the situation of under-10 metre fleets that use sustainable rod and line fishing methods in formulating fisheries policy.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 28 April 2008
	As DEFRA continues to develop its policy on environmentally responsible fishing we will be considering the environmental impacts of all types of fishing, including rod and line fishing.

Flood Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the capacity of internal drainage boards to undertake responsibility for flood prevention beyond their traditional locations.

Phil Woolas: The current consultation on surface water management seeks views on the role that internal drainage boards might play in producing surface water management plans in the future. It is suggested that internal drainage boards might play a greater role in managing surface water drainage in rural areas in a parallel role to the equivalent operating authority in urban areas.
	The consultation suggests that operating authorities, in fulfilling their surface water drainage responsibilities, could set up a working group made up of the relevant local authorities, water companies, the Environment Agency and the relevant internal drainage boards. In certain circumstances, a local authority may choose to discharge its responsibilities for leading a surface water management plan through a relevant internal drainage board in their area. This board would then play a lead role in preparing the plan and ensuring that other operating authorities' activities are consistent with it.

Flood Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authority areas fall within the catchment of an internal drainage board.

Phil Woolas: There are approximately 170 internal drainage boards (IDB) in England and Wales concentrated mainly in East Anglia, Yorkshire, Somerset and Lincolnshire. Most IDB catchments overlap several local authority boundaries. This means there is at least one, and usually multiple local authorities within each IDB catchment.

Flood Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will encourage local authorities in areas where two tiers of local government exist to form joint bodies to oversee flood prevention measures.

Phil Woolas: Local authorities have permissive powers (but no statutory obligation) to undertake works to manage flood risk from the sea and from watercourses for which the Environment Agency and internal drainage boards do not hold such powers. In areas where there are two tiers of local government, county councils will not normally exercise such powers unless this has been requested by the district council.
	The current consultation on surface water management is considering the role that local authorities might play in preparing surface water management plans. It suggests that such plans should be prepared by the same tier of authority that currently prepares strategic flood risk assessments. In two-tier authorities, this is normally the district council, although this can depend on local circumstances.
	Where flooding issues cut across district boundaries within a county, district councils would provide the detailed surface water management plan as the local planning authority, with county councils potentially exercising a scrutiny function across several local authorities.
	We are currently reviewing the responsibilities of all delivery bodies involved in flood risk management and will look to the recommendations from the Pitt Review to determine how any changes might be implemented.

Flood Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will encourage localised measurement of rainfall to present more accurate information on potential flooding.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency maintains a network of 750 telemetered rain-gauges which feed data directly into computer models to forecast river levels, using the national flood forecasting system (NFFS). The Environment Agency is about to gain access to a further 110 telemetered rain-gauges that are owned by the Met Office. The Environment Agency also maintains a network of 2,250 rain-gauges across England and Wales that are monitored on a daily basis and which are used in a planning capacity to establish potential flood risk.
	Due to the limitations of measuring rainfall at fixed point locations, spatial data on actual and forecast rainfall is provided by a network of weather radars (which measure rainfall to a resolution up to 1 sq km), and by the Met Office's weather forecasting models. The Environment Agency has evaluated each area with a flood risk to ensure that each is served with information from an appropriate number of rain-gauges or data from weather radar. Where gaps are identified, then improvements in rain-gauge coverage (and/or weather radar) are under way.

Flood Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers are available to a person who is appointed as a flood warden by a parish or town council.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency recently produced a policy statement on the use of flood wardens for flood warning purposes and supports the practice of using volunteers in local communities in times of flooding. Flood wardens provide community cohesion and support during and after flooding.
	The Environment Agency is not aware of any powers available to volunteers who undertake this role.

Floods: Construction

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions the Environment Agency has objected to a development on the basis of flood risk in the last five years, broken down by local authority; and what the outcome of the application was in each case.

Phil Woolas: The high level target (HLT) 5 (previously HLT 12) and its appendices, provide information on the impact of the technical advice on flood risk provided by the Environment Agency on planning decisions made by English local planning authorities. This includes a list of all of the Environment Agency's objections on flood risk grounds (major and minor development).
	All annual HLT reports compiled by the Environment Agency, from 2000-01 on development and flood risk, have been submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (and before that to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), with recent reports copied to Communities and Local Government.
	The Environment Agency's list of all its objections lodged during 2006-07, are currently available via the Environment Agency's website and copies of the annual HLT report from 2001-02 have been placed in the Library of the House.

Livestock: Exports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) cattle or calves,  (b) sheep and  (c) other livestock species were exported from the UK for (i) further fattening and (ii) slaughter in 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not collected centrally and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Local Food Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria he has established to determine eligibility for the local food scheme; and whether such criteria vary between regions.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister with responsibility for national lottery issues.
	The Local Food programme is run by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts as an award partner of Big Lottery Fund. It is one of five England wide award partner programmes funded through the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme. Not-for-profit community groups and organisations in England can apply to the Local Food programme. The eligibility criteria do not vary between regions. For full details of eligibility criteria and further information about the programme visit:
	www.localfoodgrants.org

Natural Gas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has commissioned or funded into gas use in households which have introduced energy efficiency measures.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA has a research programme in place to test and quantify the in-situ performance of energy efficiency measures. We have also undertaken research into householder 'comfort taking'. This research feeds back into the modelling and the carbon savings prescribed to policies in the climate change programme.
	Although yet to be fully quantified, we now know that UK gas consumption has fallen 12 per cent. since 2005, which we believe to be at least in part the impact of our regulatory energy efficiency policies such as the supplier obligation and building regulations.

Packaging: Recycling

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage the introduction of a standardised labelling system indicating the recyclability of product packaging.

Joan Ruddock: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has helped the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to develop a voluntary scheme for on-pack labelling on recycling. WRAP and the BRC consulted on the scheme in November 2007, and expect to launch it formally soon.

Pet Travel Scheme

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of failure of microchips used to obtain pet passports there were in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 24 April 2008
	Animal Health (AH) do not hold records of pets whose microchips have failed when scanned by their local vet.
	AH do hold records of microchip failures when pets are presented at ports of entry. These show that, between 1 January 2003 and 1 January 2008, 297 pets were presented at ports and were refused entry into the UK under PETS due to microchip failure.

Plastic Bags: Taxation

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to exempt plastic bags made from biodegradable film from the proposed plastic bag tax.

Joan Ruddock: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget on 12 March that we will introduce legislation to require retailers to impose a charge on single-use carrier bags from 2009, if retailers have not achieved a substantial reduction in the number of bags distributed on a voluntary basis.
	The criteria for the types of bags subject to the charge, and any appropriate exemptions, will be a matter for secondary legislation. This will be consulted on beforehand.
	However, as the purpose of the proposed charge is to reduce the numbers of all types of single-use carrier bags being distributed, there are no current plans to exempt bags made from biodegradable film.

Plastic Bags: Taxation

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether plastic bags manufactured before the start date for any plastic bag tax will be subject to the tax.

Joan Ruddock: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget on 12 March that we will introduce legislation to require retailers to impose a charge on single-use carrier bags from 2009, if retailers have not achieved a substantial reduction in the number of bags distributed on a voluntary basis.
	The criteria for the types of bags subject to the charge, and any appropriate exemptions, will be a matter for secondary legislation. This will be consulted on beforehand.
	However, as one of the aims of the proposed charge is to change consumers' behaviour by ensuring that they have to pay a smallbut meaningfulcharge every time they accept a single-use bag, there are no current plans to exempt bags on the basis of the date on which they were manufactured.

Recreation Spaces: Urban Areas

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what circumstances the public may be excluded from land designated as a town green under section 15(1) of the Commons Act 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: There is some uncertainty over this issue, but our view is that local inhabitants have a right to indulge in lawful sports and pastimes on a registered town or village green. However, such rights do not extend to the public generally.

Tobacco: Wastes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the percentage of waste accounted for by tobacco-related products.

Jonathan R Shaw: No estimate has been made of the amount of waste accounted for specifically by tobacco-related products.
	However, the most comprehensive measure of litter on the street today is that provided by the Local Environmental Quality Survey of England, conducted by ENCAMS on DEFRA's behalf. The survey is based on a random selection of 12,000 sites across a third of all England's local authority areas. The percentage of tobacco related products is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage of sites on which smoking related litter is found 
			 2001-02 60 
			 2002-03 63 
			 2003-04 79 
			 2004-05 79 
			 2005-06 79 
			 2006-07 78

Water: Conservation

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage the manufacture and sale of water efficient toilets that have a flush volume that is lower than the water regulation standard flush volume of six litres.

Phil Woolas: The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations currently set minimum levels of water efficiency performance for key water using appliances such as WCs, urinals, dishwashers and washing machines. A review of the regulations over the coming year will include options for setting new performance standards for key water using fittings. These measures will apply to individual appliances installed in both new and existing houses and non-domestic buildings.
	DEFRA is working with Communities and Local Government on measures to improve the standard of water efficiency in new homes. New provisions in building regulations and the Code for Sustainable Homes set new performance standards for new homes, which will encourage the take-up of efficient water fittings.
	Additionally the enhanced capital allowance (EGA) scheme for water efficient technologies provides accelerated tax relief to businesses investing in designated sustainable water technologies, including efficient toilets with flush volumes below six litres.
	To assess future consumption trends for WCs, and identify what actions are necessary to improve WC design and efficiency, the Government's market transformation programme (MTP) has published a number of documents related to the water use of WCs. These documents are available on the MTP website.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Olympic Games 2012

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the effects of expenditure on the 2012 London Olympics on arts funding.

Margaret Hodge: ACE Lottery will be contributing a total of 112.5 million towards the costs of the 2012 London Olympics, spread over the four years leading up to the Games. That amounts to 28 million per year, i.e. 5 per cent. of the expected total income for the arts in the period 2008-09 to 2011-12. There will still be approximately 500 million of new Lottery money for ACE over those four years and existing Lottery commitments will not be affected.
	The Government have a proud record of support for the arts and over the last 10 years we have increased funding to the arts by 73 per cent. in real terms. In October 2007, we announced that grant-in-aid funding for Arts Council England (ACE) would continue to rise above inflation to 467 million by 2010-11, i.e. an increase of 3.3 per cent. above inflation over three years.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1049W, on departmental ICT, how many missing or stolen  (a) laptops and  (b) personal digital assistants have been replaced by his Department; and at what cost.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All of the PDAs lost or stolen since 2001 have been replaced. The value of each is not recorded but as a guide the current price of a PDA is 159. All of the laptops were replaced by re-allocating existing equipment.

Departmental Pay

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of  (a) salaries for permanent Civil Service posts,  (b) salaries for permanent non-Civil Service posts and  (c) payments to temporary or agency workers in his Department was in each month since May 2005.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The cost of  (a) salaries for permanent civil service posts and  (c) payments to temporary or agency workers in the Department for each month since May 2005 are shown in the tables.
	We have no permanent non-civil service posts.
	
		
			  (a) Monthly salaries 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 April 1,825,994 1,856,522 1,798,460 
			 May 1,507,322 1,611,615 1,844,678 
			 June 1,722,074 2,061,361 1,935,462 
			 July 1,675,197 1,922,990 2,097,366 
			 August 1,684,675 1,869,716 1,816,795 
			 September 1,631,500 1,826,360 1,822,462 
			 October 1,695,013 1,761,219 1,925,348 
			 November 2,081,117 2,362,426 2,717,239 
			 December 1,910,297 2,044,969 1,901,508 
			 January 1,668,386 1,947,021 1,913,558 
			 February 1,858,986 1,852,777 1,973,384 
			 March 1,935,125 2,063,844 Not yet available 
			  Notes: 1. March 2008 awaiting updates. 2. November each year includes annual pay award and arrears of pay. 3. Figures include all permanent civil servants, Ministers and special advisers. 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Monthly temporary /agency costs 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 April 57,522 85,534 191,730 
			 May 53,219 384,378 83,042 
			 June 36,892 226,408 150,263 
			 July 42,155 101,470 73,037 
			 August 47,698 226,436 214,088 
			 September 49,650 119,468 166,293 
			 October 50,117 91,831 372,835 
			 November 53,796 116,008 252,150 
			 December 39,853 58,364 166,612 
			 January 56,428 133,062 182,602 
			 February 148,215 83,283 197,794 
			 March 163,017 103,960 287,909 
			  Notes: 1: Figures are based on monthly transactions before year end adjustments for the Department's statutory accounts.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the effect on his Department's expenditure would be of increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which his Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There would be no effect on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's expenditure from increasing the employee contribution by one per cent. to each pension scheme for which it is responsible.

Departmental Written Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the last six months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the average number of days taken to answer parliamentary questions is not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fossils

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he proposes to take steps to bring fossils within the remit of the Waverly system; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: I do not propose to bring fossils within the remit of the Waverley System. The export legislation for which my Department is responsible covers cultural goods only and does not cover fossils, since they are neither manufactured nor produced.

Gaming

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many adult gaming centres have closed in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not hold centrally information on gaming centres.

Sports: Drugs

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the new independent anti-doping agency to be established; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: UK Sport has been developing a business case outlining its proposals for the new National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO). This was presented to me on 28 April.
	Decisions on the new organisation, including possible timescales for establishment, will be made following consideration of the business case.

Strategic, Necessary and Proportionate Test

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on developing his Department's Strategic, Necessary and Proportionate test.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The SNaP test was developed by Departmental staff as part of the DCMS Transformation Programme, following the Department's Capability Review. Staff costs for this specific element of the Transformation Programme are not held but are expected to be minimal.

Theatres: Closures

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many regional theatres closed in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Information on independent theatres and theatres funded only by local authorities is not held centrally.
	The following information provides a breakdown of producing theatres receiving Arts Council funding that have closed, are currently closed temporarily and that have opened since 2002. Arts Council England does not hold data on theatre closures and openings prior to the merger of the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards in 2002.
	
		
			   Theatres  Region 
			  Closures   
			 December 2004 The Bridewell, City of London London 
			 January 2007 The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke (Venue reopened under the management of Anvil Arts in September 2007) South East 
			 March 2007 Gardner Arts Centre, Brighton South East 
			  Total 3 
			
			  Current theatre temporary closures   
			 January 2007 Leicester Haymarket (temporarily closed, new venue 'Curve' to open autumn 2008) East Midlands 
			 March 2007 Chester Gateway (temporarily closed, new performing arts centre to open in 2010-11) North West 
			 September 2007 Bristol Old Vic (temporarily closed. Funding confirmed for 2008-09) South West 
			 February 2008 Derby Playhouse (closed at present, in administration. Funding for produced theatre in Derby confirmed for 2008 to 2011) East Midlands 
			  Total 4 
			
			  Theatre openings   
			 February 2003 Hampstead theatre (Camden) London 
			 May 2005 M6 theatre studio (Rochdale) North West 
			 September 2005 Burnley Youth Theatre North West 
			 December 2005 Unicorn (Southwark) London 
			 September 2007 Round Theatre (Newcastle) North East 
			  Total 5

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

ConstructionSkills: Stratagem

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what payments ConstructionSkills made to  (a) Fishburn Hedges,  (b) Stratagem and  (c) Grayling Political strategy in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

David Lammy: I have written to Peter Lobban, the chief executive officer of CITB-ConstructionSkills, asking him to reply to the hon. Gentleman's question directly.

Apprentices: Social Security Benefits

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on family incomes of young people taking on work-based apprenticeships with day release to college which are not eligible for education maintenance allowance and which result in the loss of child benefit, tax credits, child support agency and other passported benefits.

David Lammy: In 2004 a cross-departmental review on financial support for 16 to 19-year-olds reported that apprenticeship pay should be on par with the overall package of financial support provided to learners in other learning routes. In response, the Government set an expectation that apprentices be paid a weekly wage of at least 80 per week which is broadly the equivalent of the package of child and family benefits paid in respect of unwaged learners. A research survey published by the Department in April 2008 showed that average apprenticeship pay has risen in line with inflation since 2005, from a weekly average of 137 to 170 in 2008. A copy of the survey report will be placed in the Library. To ensure that apprenticeship pay remains at least on par with financial support for other learning routes, the Government have remitted the Low Pay Commission to report on apprenticeship pay by February 2009. The Government will consider its findings once they have been published.

Business: Higher Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many  (a) British nationals,  (b) EU citizens,  (c) non-EU citizens and  (d) individuals in total with a Masters degree or equivalent M-level or continuing professional development qualification received a Master of Business Administration degree from each institution in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many  (a) British nationals,  (b) EU citizens,  (c) non-EU citizens and  (d) individuals in total received a Masters degree from each institution in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many  (a) British nationals,  (b) EU citizens,  (c) non-EU citizens and  (d) people in total received PGCEs in each subject from each institution in each of the last 10 years;
	(4)  how many UK nationals of each  (a) age,  (b) sex and  (c) ethnic group completed an equal or lower qualification following (i) full-time and (ii) part-time study in each subject at each institution in each of the last 10 years;
	(5)  how many  (a) British nationals,  (b) EU citizens,  (c) non-EU citizens and  (d) people in total who already had a PGCE qualification received a Masters degree or equivalent or lower qualification except an M-Level or continuing professional development qualification in each subject from each institution in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: Most of the information is not held centrally or could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The data we hold are set out in tables which have been placed in the Libraries.

Departmental Energy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department has taken to reduce its energy consumption in the last 12 months; and what his Department's expenditure on energy was in  (a) the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available and  (b) the immediately preceding 12 months.

David Lammy: All property occupied by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is managed on our behalf by, and is the responsibility of, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and the Department for Children Schools and Families. Therefore steps taken to reduce energy consumption in those Departments will apply to his Department as well.
	No separate figures are yet available for departmental expenditure on energy.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible; and on what assumptions for  (a) discount and  (b) longevity the estimate is based.

David Lammy: Arising from its responsibilities as an employer, the Department has to ensure that appropriate employer pension contributions are made to the pension schemes into which its employees make contributions under their contract of employment. The Department does not have responsibility for the management of these schemes.
	The overriding majority of my Department's staff are members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.
	The information sought in the question is contained in the resource accounts of the pension schemes.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1990-91.

David Lammy: The Department was established as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007.
	Arising from its responsibilities as an employer, the Department has to ensure that appropriate employer pension contributions are made to the pension schemes into which its employees make contributions under their contract of employment. The Department does not have responsibility for the management of these schemes.
	The overriding majority of employees in the Department are members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.
	Information about pension scheme liabilities in present value terms is shown in scheme resource accounts (since 2000/01), although these are produced under differing sets of assumptionsfor example, of longevityso are not comparable across years.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the  (a) rate and  (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility in each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department was established as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007.
	Arising from its responsibilities as an employer, the Department has to ensure that appropriate employer pension contributions are made to the pension schemes into which its employees make contributions under their contract of employment. The rate and cost information being sought is contained in the pension scheme resource accounts (since 2000/01).

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the effect on his Department's expenditure would be from increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which his Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: An increase in the employee contribution would not affect the Department's expenditure.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and its executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The majority of the information requested will be set out in the Departmental Remuneration Report, which is part of the Department's accounts.

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many public consultations have been held by his Department since its establishment; and how many respondents took part in each consultation.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has launched eight public consultations since its establishment. The number of respondents that took part in the process for each consultation is stated in the following table. Please note that a respondent may be an individual or equally it can be an organisation representing the views of its full membership of thousands. The tracking system cannot distinguish between the two.
	
		
			  Title of consultation  Number of respondents  Closing date (if ongoing) 
			
			 Confidence in standards: regulating and developing qualifications and assessment 80 responses  
			 The role of further education providers in promoting community cohesion, fostering shared values and preventing violent extremism 5 responses to date 6 May 2008 
			 Raising expectations: enabling the system to deliver 14 responses to date 9 June 2008 
			 Higher education at workhigh skills: high value 07 July 2008  
			 Informal adult learningshaping the way ahead 173 formal written responses to date; also consultation events are being held including a citizen's jury, a national learner panel and more 12 June 2008 
			 Focusing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) on community cohesion 195 written responses; also 11 consultation events held for learners  stakeholders with around 1000 people involved 4 April 2008 
			 Innovation Nation 280 responses 14 February 2008 
			 Improvement in the further education sectora consultative prospectus for a new sector owed organisation. 92 responses

Financial Services Skills Council: Cicero Consulting

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what payments the Financial Services Skills Council made to Cicero Consulting in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

David Lammy: The Financial Services Skills Council has contracted with Cicero Consulting since December 2006. The payments and contract between Financial Services Skills Council and Cicero Consulting are current and commercial in confidence. Under the arrangements Cicero Consulting provide expertise and advice on financial services for a fixed amount of hours per month. It is important that the SSC has a sound understanding of the issues faced by and the views of the industry and consumers.

Part-Time Education: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of making the support available to part-time 19 to 25-year-olds enrolled on their first full level 3 course equivalent to that of full-time, home-based, first degree undergraduates in respect of  (a) grants,  (b) maintenance loans and  (c) fee loans; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Our internal modelling estimates for extending the Level 3 entitlement to adults aged 25-29 is around 20 million over the CSR period (i.e. from 2008/09 to 2010/11) in respect of tuition fees. Our estimate of extending it to adults aged 25-34 is around 40 million over the same period. This is probably near the bottom end of likely costs: were participation to increase as a result of the entitlement, costs could be much greater.
	We currently have no plans to extend the Level 3 entitlement beyond its current age-range of 19-24.

Student Loans Company: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much money was retained by the Student Loans Company for eventual repayment to graduates in each month of the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much money has been refunded to graduates by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the form of  (a) refunds of overpayments for people who have extinguished their debt,  (b) refunds for people who have overpaid but who continue to owe money to the SLC and  (c) refunds for any other reason in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The Student Loans Company (SLC) does not retain funds to repay student loan borrowers, but refunds any overpayments from the cash repayments it receives from borrowers. Refunds include any interest due, which is awarded at the same rate of interest as that charged on student loans (matching the Retail Price Index). The net repayments collected by the SLC are paid back to the Government on a monthly basis.
	Refunds to borrowers who continue to owe money to the SLC may arise for a number of reasonsmainly due to administrative errors or because their overall annual income is below the annual repayment threshold (15,000) but income at some paydates in the year exceeds the weekly or monthly threshold.
	The amounts refunded to borrowers by the SLC for the five years commencing 2002-03 are set out in the following table. Refunds in 2006-07 represented 1.7 per cent. of the repayments collected by SLC totalling 529,800,000.
	
		
			   
			   Financial year 
			  Type of refund  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Borrowers who have extinguished their debt 764,124 2,324,109 4,314,058 6,796,132 8,184,667 
			 Borrowers who have overpaid but continue to owe money 1,051,751 873087 1,468,336 1,558,074 1,039,750 
			   
			 Total 1,815,875 3,197,196 5,782,394, 8,354,206 9,224,417 
			  N otes: 1. Includes income contingent (ICR) loans and publicly owned mortgage style (MS) loans. 2. DomicileEngland for ICR loans and England and Wales for MS loans. 3. It was not practical to isolate other refunds from the category of borrowers who continue to owe money.

Students: Grants

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of part-time undergraduates in England studying  (a) between 50 per cent. and 59 per cent.,  (b) between 60 per cent. and 74 per cent. and  (c) 75 per cent. or more of a full-time course received a fee grant in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average value was of the fee grant received by part-time undergraduates studying  (a) between 50 per cent. and 59 per cent.,  (b) between 60 per cent. and 74 per cent. and  (c) 75 per cent. or more of a full-time course in the last year for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is not available centrally.

Students: Loans

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Devon of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 84-6WS, on Education (Student Support) Regulations, how much in  (a) student loans and  (b) maintenance grants was paid to prisoners undertaking full-time higher education courses in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how much has been repaid to the Student Loans Company by such prisoners since it was established.

Bill Rammell: In his written statement on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 85-86WS, on the Education (Student Support) Regulations, the Secretary of State announced that he was amending the student support regulations to disallow prisoners who were also full-time students from receiving financial support for maintenance, thereby removing the long-standing provision which had allowed prisoners to claim such support. In a further written statement on 25 March 208,  Official Report, column 6WS, he announced that an investigation showed that 154 individual prisoners had received some form of maintenance payment while a full time student since 1998. In total, prisoners received 570,000 in maintenance loans and 160,000 in maintenance grants over that period. The investigation also showed that assessments for student support were carried out in accordance with the rules that applied at the time. There was also evidence of some maintenance payments made to prisoners between 1990 and 1998.
	The following table shows the amounts in maintenance loans and maintenance grants paid to prisoners undertaking full-time higher education courses in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
	
		
			  Academic year  1998/99  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Student Loans(1) 12,675 19,912 13,602 19,879 39,860 41,587 60,285 105,437 143,564 108,670 
			 Maintenance Grants(2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 9,189 24,999 68,704 54,816 
			 Total 12,675 19,912 13,602 19,879 39,860 41,687 69,474 130,436 212,268 163,486 
			 (1) Student Loans consist of pre-1998 mortgage-style loans; income contingent loans introduced in 1998 and transitional loans (1998/99). (2) Maintenance grants consist of the former Higher Education grant in 2004/05 and 2005/06 and maintenance grant from 2006/07. 
		
	
	Repayment of student loans by prisoners is the same as for other borrowers. For income contingent loans, borrowers start to repay in the April after they graduate or withdraw from their course. Repayment is linked to income and repayable through the PAYE or Self Assessment Tax system and is at 9 per cent. on earnings above 15,000 a year. Interest paid is linked to the rate of inflation, so in real terms what is paid back is equivalent to what was borrowed. The repayments to the Student Loans Company by these borrowers and posted to their accounts as at 19 March, 2008 is shown in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Loan type  Amount repaid () 
			 Mortgage Style loans 3,566 
			 Income Contingent Repayments (covers repayments to end March 2007). 22,091 
			 Total repaid 25,657 
		
	
	The figures do not include payments that have been made but not yet credited to Borrowers' accounts. Prisoners will typically take longer to start repayments than other students. For example, some prisoners will complete their course several years before release; and there will therefore be a longer period between prisoners finishing their studies and starting work and earning above the annual threshold.

Students: Part-Time Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of undergraduate part-time students in England are studying between 30 and 49 per cent. of a full-time course.

Bill Rammell: In academic year 2006/07 there were 33,400 English domiciled part-time undergraduates studying in the UK at between 30 per cent. and 49 per cent. of an equivalent full-time course. This represents 7 per cent. of part-time undergraduate students.

Training: Finance

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of the foundation learning tier under the  (a) adult learner response strand and  (b) employer response strand has been allocated to (i) 14 to 19 year olds and (ii) 19 and over in (A) 2008-09, (B) 2009-10 and (C) 2010-11.

David Lammy: The joint grant letter to the Learning and Skills Council from this Department and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (November, 2007) set out the Government's funding strategy for learning and skills over the comprehensive spending review period (2008-09 to 2010-11).
	All planned expenditure for the foundation learning tier (FLT) through the adult learner responsive and employer responsive model relates to adults aged 19 and over. This is set out in the following table in line with Annex B to the grant letter.
	
		
			  Planned expenditure for foundation learning tier 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			   million 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Adult learner responsive model 243 275 290 
			 Employer responsive model 16 15 15 
		
	
	Planned expenditure for 14-19 year olds is based on the expected route of learning such as schools, further education and work-based learning rather than level of learning. The LSC statement of priorities presents these figures for 16-18 year olds only as 14-16 year olds are funded by local authorities.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials: Non-Domestic Rates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to ensure that local authorities apply business rates to phone masts at a single uniform rate.

John Healey: Authorities have no discretion over the level of business rates they apply to phone masts in their areas. Legislation requires this to be charged at a uniform rate on the rateable value of the hereditament incurred, subject to any other reliefs, which are also determined by legislation.

Allotments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the provision of allotments; and what role her Department has in such provision.

Iain Wright: A revised good practice guide, Growing in the Community, was published by the Local Government Association in March 2008, and includes a section on allotment provision. A free copy was sent to all local authorities.
	The provision of allotments is the responsibility of local authorities. Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on local authorities (except for inner London boroughs) to provide allotments where they perceive a demand for them in their area. Furthermore, Planning Policy Guidance Note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, 2002 requires local authorities to make provision for all types of open space and requires them to undertake robust assessments of local needs and audits of existing open space, to establish standards for new provision. By implementing the guidance in PPG17, local authorities should make adequate provision for allotments.

Career Structure

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what plans she has for the training and development of finance staff in her Department's headquarters under the Finance Professionalism agenda; and whether those proposals have been  (a) equality-proofed under Civil Service equality provisions and  (b) subject to an equality impact assessment;
	(2)  how many staff within the finance team in her Department's headquarters have been promoted under the Finance Professionalism agenda;
	(3)  how many staff within the finance team in her Department's headquarters have been promoted in the last 12 months otherwise than under the provisions of the Finance Professionalism agenda;
	(4)  whether her Department's trade union side or the relevant recognised trade unions was consulted on the Finance Professionalism agenda before it was announced to staff; and whether the trade union side or the relevant recognised trade unions has written to her Department seeking consultation on the Finance Professionalism agenda.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 28 April 2008
	The agenda for financial management and finance professionalism is mandated by HM Treasury. The objectives are:
	Delivering world class standards of financial management in Government requires the cost effective translation of resources into desired outcomes. This means having the right decision making structures in place, and the financial information and skills capacities to operate them.
	In seeking to deliver world class standards of financial management the Treasury aims to:-
	Promote improvements in the effectiveness of financial management and finance professionalism in Government.
	Implement reporting frameworks that build on best practice and deliver efficient and effective integrated reporting mechanisms for Government financial data.
	Promote excellent accountability in the use of public funds through setting standards of governance, risk management and internal control.
	Delivery of the Finance Professionalism agenda in each Government Department is the responsibility of the Head of Finance Professionalism. They operate within the framework and accountabilities established by Dame Mary Keegan within the auspices of the Government Finance Profession.
	For details of the role see:
	http://thegfp.treasury.gov.uk/professional/hofps_58.html
	The accountabilities include training and development of finance staff. Communities and Local Government (CLG) participate in the Big 7 group of Heads of Finance Professionalism in sharing best practice and developing the professionalism agenda.
	In September 2007, CLG launched its current training and development programme for finance staff. At present, this is focused on London-based staff and has not yet been rolled out to the Government offices and the shared service centre. The main strands of the training and development programme are:
	Continuous professional development activities and events for qualified and part qualified staff.
	Bite sized learning events on both finance and other Professional Skills for Government (PSG) topics that are relevant to CLG for all finance staff.
	Professional training courses for a CCAB qualification delivered by England's leading providers and open to all finance staff.
	Development of a set of finance competencies, based on best practice, against which finance staff can benchmark themselves.
	The training and development programme has been equality-proofed and subject to an equality impact assessment. Specifically:
	There is no limitation on any finance staff attending training and development events.
	There is no funding limitation or restrictions in finance staff taking up professional training.
	The training providers have a range of courses, including day release; evening study; weekend study and distance learning to fully meet flexible working requirements. There are no restrictions on which course finance staff select and there are generous study leave arrangements.
	The training providers operate from a number of localities to meet the needs of finance staff.
	The finance training manager provides open support and is available to assist with any individual difficulties.
	The training and development programme also covers non-finance staff and provides for accessibility and support for finance Professional Skills for Government through the National School of Government Finance Love Learning portal.
	There are approximately 135 finance staff based in central London. Since the launch of the current finance professionalism scheme in September, there have been six promotions internally on successful completion of accountancy examinations. Three finance staff have been promoted on transfer to other Government Departments, including one to the senior civil service. In addition, three members of the CLG fast stream have joined the Government Finance Profession (GFP) fast stream.
	Prior to the new scheme, only one member of staff had been promoted in the preceding five months from 1 April 2007. This promotion was of a member of staff who had worked independently to pass accountancy qualifications.
	The Finance Professionalism agenda is a Government- wide initiative, the objectives of which are publicly set out on the GFP website.
	For details see:
	http://thegfp.treasury.gov.uk/home.aspx
	The policy strands of the current training and development programme were discussed with the trade union side on 7 September 2007.
	On 28 January 2008, the PCS union wrote to the Head of Finance Professionalism in relation to the finance competency framework that had been issued to support finance staff unable to take finance qualifications. On 29 January, the Head of Finance Professionalism wrote to the PCS to answer the questions that they had raised and offered to meet the PCS to discuss any concerns. There have been regular communications to staff.

Council Tax

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it a requirement for local authorities to check households appearing in the electoral register against the council tax database to ensure that two-into-one property conversions are properly assessed for council tax; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Maintaining a list of bandings for council tax purposes is already the statutory responsibility of the Valuation Office Agency.

Departmental Energy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to reduce its energy consumption in the last 12 months; and what her Department's expenditure on energy was in  (a) the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available and  (b) the immediately preceding 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government have taken numerous steps to reduce its energy consumption over the last twelve months.
	The Department has developed a detailed Energy Efficiency Action Plan which provides a structured, timetabled approach to reducing its carbon emissions. Efficiency controls have been fitted to fans and pumps, and plant operating hours have been reduced. The building energy management system in the Department's main headquarter building has also been upgraded to enable more effective control of heating and cooling. Air conditioning plant has remained off during the winter season, and external solar blinds have been permanently lowered during summer periods to reduce solar gain. An audit was also undertaken to ensure that sensors fitted to lights were operating as intended. (The Department's office floor lighting is fitted with daylight and movement sensors which automatically switch lights off after 2  minutes of inactivity.)
	Ongoing staff awareness campaigns continue to help towards reducing the energy consumption of office equipment and the total number of computer printers has been reduced. The Department also participated in the Lights Out London energy efficiency awareness raising event.
	As part of the Department's wider estate rationalisation strategy, the total number of buildings occupied has been reduced, thereby reducing total energy consumption across the estate.
	Actions taken to reduce energy consumption within the Department's executive agencies have included installation of more energy efficient lighting systems, reductions in heating plant operating hours, installation of timer devices on boilers and investigations into options for on-site renewable energy generation.
	Energy expenditure in the last twelve months and the twelve months immediately preceding was as follows:
	
		
			   
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 London headquarters 1,447,997 895,565 
			 Executive Agencies 2,322,468 1,802,928 
		
	
	These figures do not include data from the regional Government Offices.

Departmental Legislation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criminal offences have been created by primary legislation sponsored by her Department since July 2007.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has sponsored five Acts that have received Royal Assent during or after July 2007. Four of these have not created any criminal offences:
	The Ratings (Empty Properties) Act;
	The Greater London Authority Act;
	The Planning Gain Supplement (Preparations) Act; and
	The Sustainable Communities Act.
	Section 130 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health (LGPIH) Act 2007 creates an offence of failing to provide address details when required to do so, or providing a false address, as part of arrangements to allow for a fixed penalty to be paid in lieu of prosecution for byelaw offences.
	The LGPIH Act also includes provision in section 194 which whilst not creating criminal offences per se, can be used in regulations to replicate existing offences contained in section 63 of the Local Government Act 2000 relating to improper disclosure of information.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what budget each Minister in her Department has for entertainment in 2008-09.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 28 April 2008
	Ministers do not hold entertainment budgets. All hospitality is provided in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the effect on her Department's expenditure would be of increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which her Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: An increase in 2007-08 employee contributions for the firefighters' pension scheme 1992 and the new firefighters' pension scheme 2006 of 1 per cent. would amount to 10 million. An increase in employee contributions to the local government pension scheme would amount to some 300 million on the latest figures available.
	The impact of these on the budgets of fire and rescue authorities and other local authorities would depend on other factors including any knock-on effect of the change on pay, recruitment or retention.

Domestic Wastes: Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1248W, on carbon dioxide emissions, what role household waste plays in any definition of zero carbon.

Iain Wright: Household waste has no role to play specifically in the definition of zero carbon, which is focused on the energy performance of the home in relation to energy use from cooking, washing and electronic appliances as well as space heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water. However, the Code for Sustainable Homes contains a minimum entry requirement on household waste which must be met in order to gain a star rating against the code at any level. This ensures that when developers are building to higher environmental standards, and ultimately zero carbon standards at level 6 of the code, waste is taken into account in the design, construction and occupation of the house.

East of England Regional Assembly: Elections

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on direct elections to the East of England Regional Assembly; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have received no such representations. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1397W, which sets out the Government's policy on regional assemblies.

Farms: Planning Permission

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to amend planning legislation to enable farmers to build on-farm accommodation for their children more easily.

Iain Wright: The Government recognise that rural communities do face particular housing pressures. That is why the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell has been asked to conduct an independent review to advise and assist Government on how land use and planning can better support rural business and deliver affordable housing, and which is due to report in July this year.
	The policy approach in Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing (PPS3) and Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7) allows the development of new dwellings within existing farm holdings or, for example, the conversion of disused or underused farm buildings for housing, in certain, suitable locations. Annex A of PPS7 advises that one of the circumstances in which isolated residential development may be justified is when accommodation is required to enable agricultural, forestry and certain other full-time workers to live at, or in the immediate vicinity of, their place of work.
	Local planning authorities should include appropriate policies in their local plans which will help deliver the amount of housing they need and decide where that housing should be located. It is for them to determine individual planning applications, such as those for the development of new dwellings within existing farm holdings, in accordance with their local plans, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
	The policies in PPS3 and PPS7 apply to England only. Planning policy in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Fire Services: Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) whole-time firefighters,  (b) retained firefighters and  (c) non-uniformed fire and rescue service staff were employed on 11th September (i) 2001 and (ii) in each subsequent year, broken down by fire authority area.

Parmjit Dhanda: Available information, for the period 2001-02 to 2005-06 (at 31 March in each year), has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Flags

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role her Department plays in  (a) the process by which counties may establish their own flags and  (b) the planning permission rules relating to the flying of county flags; and how many counties have established such flags.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government plays no part in the process by which counties may establish their own flags. Similarly, we hold no records on how many counties have established such flags.
	Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 flags come within the definition of advertisement. The rules relating to the flying of county flags are to be found in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, which came into force on 6 April 2007. Under Class H Schedule 1 of these Regulations certain flags, including those of any English county, may be flown without requiring the express consent of the local authority in whose territory they are being flown, provided that neither the flag nor the flagstaff displays any advertisement or subject matter additional to the design of the flag.

Floods: Local Government Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers parish and town councils have to levy a precept in order to deal with flooding issues.

John Healey: Section 41 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 provides powers to parish and town councils to issue a precept to their local billing authority as their budget requirement for the year. A precept must be issued before 1 March in the financial year preceding that for which it is issued.
	There is no requirement for the precept to be broken down against specific services provided.

Greenbelt: Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1275W, on regional planning and development, in which local authorities has a planning inspector has  (a) amended a proposed policy on the Green Belt and  (b) rejected a development plan document as unsound due to the proposed policy on the Green Belt.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the Statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008,  Official Report, column 327.

Parmjit Dhanda: My Department does not provide health or social care services, but does provides grant funding for local authorities, through, for example, Formula Grant, which may be used to support local authority social care functions.
	There are no plans at present to apply the proposed power in clause 69 of the Health and Social Care Bill, enabling the Care Quality Commission to perform any of its functions in relation to health or social care schemes, to any activities which are within the policy responsibility of my Department.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to establish a standard definition for zero-carbon with regards to housing; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on defining zero-carbon for the purposes of housing; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: In the Building a Greener Future policy statement, published on 23 July 2007, we committed to consulting on the definition of zero carbon homes from 2016. In the 2008 Budget the Government announced that the 2016 definition of a zero carbon home would be set by the end of 2008 following a consultation in the summer.
	Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what representations her Department has received on the comparative carbon dioxide emission reductions potentially available from refurbishing existing housing to higher energy efficiency standards and building new zero carbon housing; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the carbon dioxide emissions from refurbishing existing housing to higher energy efficiency standards; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government anticipate that, in order to meet the long-term carbon reduction target set out in the Climate Change Bill, substantial reductions will be required both from new and existing homes. A number of studies have been undertaken on the potential in each of these. In particular:
	In 2007, following analysis published by my Department (http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/reviewsustainability), the Office of Climate Change published its analytical slide pack on household emissions (http://www.occ.gov.uk/publications/index.htm). This estimated that existing policies (including zero carbon homes) would reduce carbon emissions by some 45 million tonnes carbon dioxide (MtCO2) per year by 2020 and that there was further potential (not from existing policies) to reduce emissions by some 47.5 MtCO2 per year (including some 11.7 MtCO2 from measures with a payback of seven years or less).
	In 2007, following consultation, my Department published the Building a Greener Future policy statement (http://www.communities.gov.ukypublications/planningandbuilding/building-a-greener) and accompanying regulatory impact assessment, which estimated that our policies on revising building regulations towards the zero carbon standard will save some 2.7 MtCO2 per year by 2020 and at least 15 MtCO2 per year by 2050. A further consultation on the detailed definition of zero carbon will follow later this year.

Housing: Insulation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of properties in England unsuitable for cavity wall insulation; what proportion of the total housing stock this represents; what reports she has received on the reasons why cavity wall insulation is inappropriate in some circumstances; and what effect such circumstances are likely to have on her Department's ability to meet its targets on improving the energy efficiency of existing housing stock.

Caroline Flint: The Explanatory Memorandum for the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target includes an estimate of the number of cavity walls in GB that can not be insulated for the following reasons:
	High rise blocks of flats.
	Cavity width less than 50mm (or less than 40mm) if UF foam is used.
	Walls below ground level.
	Finlock gutters (unless they have been lined)
	Water penetration or rising damp (unless treated)
	Timber, steel, concrete or stone walls.
	Walls exposed to driving rain (unless the outer leaf is in good condition and appropriate to the locality).
	We estimate that there are currently 7.3 million homes in Great Britain with unfilled but fillable wall cavities and around 807,000 homes with unfillable cavities, for the reasons set out above. We estimate that around 2.9 million cavities will be filled under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target.
	However, the insulation industry has informed the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that improvements in technology mean that some of these cavities can now be filled; for example, three of the main insulation companies have installed cavity wall insulation in blocks of flats up to 45m, and CIGA (the cavity wall insulation guarantee agency) has assured DEFRA that cavity wall insulation is regularly retrofitted to homes in areas of driving rain (for example, Cornwall, Shetland and the Hebrides) provided that the external leaf of the building is in good condition. We therefore believe that the figure of 807,000 unfillable cavities in Great Britain is an over-estimate.

Housing: Lancashire

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to increase the supply of affordable housing in (a) Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency and  (b) Lancashire.

Iain Wright: The North West has been allocated 837 million for housing over the next three years, an increase of 341 million on the previous spending review period.
	Of the 837 million, 526 million is specifically for the provision of affordable housing. The Government are expecting a minimum output of 6,900 homes for social renting and 3,000 units for affordable home ownership. However decisions still have to be made on how best to spend these resources to achieve these aims.
	Part of this regional allocation will go towards the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP). The first tranche of the 2008-11 programme was announced on 26 February 2008. 45.3 million will be allocated to Lancashire, and 2.9 million will go to Lancaster, which includes Morecambe in its area. Further allocations will be made later.
	In addition, 311 million of the regional allocation will go to local authorities over the next three years, and Lancaster city council has been allocated 1.28 million for 2008-09.

Housing: Planning Permission

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will consider giving local authorities greater powers within the planning process on decisions to convert family dwelling houses to flats; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: In general, the conversion of a dwelling house to flats would involve a material change of use and therefore require planning permission. It would then be for the local authority to determine whether this is appropriate based on their local plans and policies and the need for such housing in the area. It is important for local authorities to strike a balance between the need to make efficient use of land by building at higher densities in accessible locations and making sure that satisfactory living conditions are either maintained or could be achieved.
	I have no plans to give local authorities greater powers in relation to planning decisions on the conversion of dwelling houses to flats, as I consider that existing powers are sufficient. It would not be appropriate to restrict generally the opportunities that conversions can bring to overall housing stock, as these are decisions best taken locally after careful consideration of the merits and drawbacks of each particular case.

Housing: Planning Permission

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in respect of how many new dwellings Bournemouth borough council has granted planning permission in each of the last three years.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government collects quarterly aggregate statistics on the number of planning decisions granted for major and minor developments relating to residential development. We do not collect data on individual planning applications. However, data obtained directly from the borough of Bournemouth show that the authority gave planning permission for the following numbers of dwellings over the past three years.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005-06 2,900 
			 2006-07 2,677 
			 2007-08 2,253 
		
	
	The figures exclude any applications granted on appeal. The statistics may also include applications for the same site.

Housing: Prices

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average purchase price of a domestic dwelling was for a first-time buyer in  (a) England and  (b) the United Kingdom in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government calculate monthly mix-adjusted average purchase prices of domestic dwellings bought by first time buyers based on data from the Regulated Mortgage Survey. This is available for the UK, by country and Government Office region back to February 2002 on our website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-592
	From this table the average mix-adjusted price of a property bought by a first time buyer in February 2008 was 166,101 in England and 160,338 in the UK.

Housing: Prices

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information her Department holds on the average purchase price of a domestic dwelling paid by first time buyers.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government calculate monthly mix-adjusted average purchase prices of domestic dwellings bought by first time buyers based on data from the regulated mortgage survey. This is available for the UK, by country and Government Office region back to February 2002 on our website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-592

Housing: Standards

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many  (a) local authority,  (b) private rented,  (c) owner-occupier and  (d) housing association homes did not reach the decent homes standard in each region in England in each year since 2001.

Iain Wright: holding answer 25 April 2008
	Nationally, the English House Condition Survey (EHCS) is used to monitor house conditions and has been carried out and reported every five years until 2001 and annually from 2003. The survey provides the following national estimates of non-decency for all sectors from 2001 to the latest date available, 2006:
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of non-decent homes by sector, 2001-06 
			  Number (Thousand) 
			   2001  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Local authorities 1,174 975 816 729 695 
			 Private rented 1,101 1,056 994 1,003 1,055 
			 Owner-occupied 4,316 4,219 4,066 3,822 3,704 
			 Registered social landlords 472 467 437 433 436 
			  Notes:  1. Base = all dwellings.  2. RSL figures are affected by transfers from local authority stock over the period. Figures are based on the old Fitness definition of the Decent Homes Standard.   Source:  English House Condition Survey. 
		
	
	The EHCS cannot provide robust regional figures for each tenure on an annual basis. However, the following regional aggregates for local authorities (LAs) and registered social landlords (RSLs) have been reported by local authorities in their Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA) returns and by housing associations in the Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR):
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of local authority non-decent homes 2002-07( 1) 
			  Region  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 117,000 112,000 100,000 94,000 91,000 76,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 145,000 190,000 188,000 142,000 113,000 96,000 
			 East Midland 80,000 83,000 67,000 60,000 54,000 46,000 
			 East of England 77,000 71,000 64,000 56,000 40,000 39,000 
			 London 280,000 264,000 241,000 215,000 174,000 152,000 
			 South East 84,000 75,000 81,000 68,000 59,000 49,000 
			 South West 54,000 52,000 49,000 40,000 35,000 27,000 
			 West Midland 169,000 134,000 111,000 108,000 91,000 70,000 
			 North West 174,000 146,000 118,000 103,000 78,000 63,000 
			 (1) Rounded to nearest thousand.   Notes:  1. The BPSA started collecting data on non-decency for the period 2001-02.  2. Non-decent stock reported by local authorities is a snapshot figure as at 1 April each year. 3. The data are based on actual reporting and there is no imputation to account for missing values.   Source:  Business Plan Statistical Appendix. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of RSL non-decent homes 2005-07 
			  Region  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 23,031 16,693 14,600 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 52,460 38,224 37,255 
			 East Midland 11,875 10,477 10,152 
			 East of England 25,452 24,490 22,482 
			 London 48,521 48,564 36,736 
			 South East 37,924 30,478 24,538 
			 South West 27,793 25,011 22,905 
			 West Midland 45,347 35,447 22,056 
			 North West 70,056 67,371 63,499 
			  Note:  2005 was the first year in which data were collected by local authority enabling regional breakdowns.   Source:  Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return.

Index of Deprivation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library copies of the original datasets used to calculate the geographical barriers sub-domain in the English Indices of Deprivation 2007, including data for each lower layer super output area for  (a) road distance to a GP surgery,  (b) road distance to a general store or supermarket,  (c) road distance to a primary school and  (d) road distance to a post office or sub post office;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the dataset of difficulty of access to owner-occupation used to compile the Index of Deprivation 2007, including data for each lower layer super output area.

John Healey: The Department is seeking the relevant permissions to enable us to publish the underlying indicators of the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 at Lower Super Output Area level, including those in the geographical barriers sub-domain. I will place a copy of these indicators in the Library of the House.

Index of Deprivation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes were made to the methodology of the Index of Deprivation in  (a) 2000,  (b) 2004 and  (c) 2007 in relation to the manner in which the geographical barriers sub-domain was calculated.

John Healey: The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 (IMD 2000) is a ward level measure of multiple deprivation. For the geographical access sub-domain, average distance travelled to each service was calculated as the average distance that claimants in a particular ward would have to travel to that service, as the crow flies. The distances to post offices, doctors' surgeries and food shops were computed for claimants of means tested out-of-work benefits, while the distance to primary schools was computed for all children aged 5 to 8.
	The same four indicators were used in the IMD 2004 and 2007. However both these indices are based on Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) geography, rather than ward geography. The measurement of distance changed from ;as the crow flies' to measuring road distance, to each service. The distances were measured to the nearest 10 metres. In 2004 and 2007 distance was measured for all people rather than just for people claiming out-of-work benefits. In the case of primary schools, the population used is the relevant child population.

Infrastructure Planning Commission

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice her Department has received from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on the number of cases which would have been reported or determined by PINS, which are likely to be dealt with by the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Iain Wright: The advice that the Planning Inspectorate has given to the Department is that fewer than 10 cases per year that are or would have been dealt with by the Inspectorate would be handled by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) on the basis of the definitions contained in the Bill. This is consistent with departmental statements that it would only be a handful of cases that would pass from the Inspectorate to the IPC.

Infrastructure Planning Commission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the average number of planning applications which will be considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission each year.

John Healey: The Planning Bill Impact Assessment, published in November 2007, estimated that the Infrastructure Planning Commission would consider around 45 major infrastructure projects a year. In addition, the May 2007 Planning White Paper made clear that there would also be a larger number of less complex cases, such as works necessary to ensure the operational effectiveness and resilience of the electricity transmission and distribution network.

Local Authorities: Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department has given local authorities guidance on carbon offsetting.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government has not given advice to local authorities on carbon offsetting. However, in January 2007, DEFRA wrote to local authorities to inform them of the work it has been doing to develop a voluntary code of practice for offsetting. Government are continuing to develop this work, in the form of a voluntary quality assurance scheme.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes have been made to the equalisation formula for local government funding in England since May 1997.

John Healey: The method of calculation of formula grant is detailed in the Local Government Finance Report (England) for each financial year. The Local Government Finance Report (England) for each year has been placed in the Library of the House.

Local Government: Consent Regimes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 586W, on local government: consent regimes, how many  (a) listed building consents made by the Local Planning Authority (LPA),  (b) Conservation Area Consents,  (c) less than best price disposals,  (d) allotments disposals and  (e) LPA TPO consents were considered by the Government Office for London in the last year for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: Details for the financial year 2006-07 are detailed as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Listed Building Consents (LPA) 143 (including  2 withdrawn cases) 
			 Conservation Area Consents 3 
			 Less Than Best Price 3 (including  1 withdrawn case) 
			 Allotments Disposals 2 
		
	
	For the current financial year up to and including 22 February the figures are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Listed Building Consents (LPA) 119 (including  2 withdrawn cases) 
			 Conservation Area Consents 4 
			 Less Than Best Price 3 (including  1 withdrawn case) 
			 Allotments Disposals 4 
		
	
	The requirement to apply to the Secretary of State under LPA Tree Preservation Order (TPO) consents was repealed on 2 August 1999. However, there were 123 TPO Appeals (including 30 withdrawn) decided in the financial year 2006-07 and there have been 86 (including 28 withdrawals) decided in the current financial year up to and including 22 February.

Mayor of London: Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance  (a) her Department and  (b) the Government Office for London has issued on the Mayor of London's new powers to grant and refuse planning permission.

Iain Wright: The Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 sets out which planning applications must be referred to the Mayor, the process for considering them and the test the Mayor must apply to decide whether his intervention would be justified.
	GOL Circular 1/2008 is the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government's guidance on the arrangements for strategic planning in London. Section 5 of the circular explains how the Mayor's powers over planning applications will operate.
	The Mayor's new powers over planning applications came into force on 6 April 2008. Both the Order and Circular are available on the Government Office for London website (link below):
	http://www.gol.gov.uk/gol/Planning/624901/?a=42496

Non-Domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the function and purpose is of business rates buoyancy factor allowance.

John Healey: The purpose of the buoyancy factor is to adjust the gross provisional revenue contribution by local authorities to the non-domestic pool to take account of additions and removals of properties from the local authority's lists and the impact of appeals which will impact on the overall rateable value of the local authority's list.

Non-Domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will introduce in England a scheme with similar structure and objectives to the Northern Ireland scheme of business rate relief for automatic telling machines in rural areas.

John Healey: There are no plans to introduce a mandatory rate relief for automatic telling machines in rural areas. However, the existing rural rate relief allows local authorities to grant up to 100 per cent. discretionary relief to a hereditament in a rural settlement with a rateable value of up to 14,000, where they judge that the business is of benefit to the community.

Planning Permission

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning requirements and processes apply to proposals for  (a) new urban development and  (b) eco-towns.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 28 April 2008
	All planning applications for new urban development are determined in accordance with the development plan unless other material considerations indicate otherwise. This is also the case for eco-towns and the planning process is set out in the recently published consultation documentEco-townsLiving a greener future. Copies of the document are available in the House Library.

Planning Permission: Consultation Papers

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the consultation on revisions to Planning Policy Statement 6.

Iain Wright: holding answer 3 April 2008
	 We intend to publish the consultation on revisions to Planning Policy Statement 6 in the summer.

Planning: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department provides to planning authorities on the potential for excess water to flood neighbouring properties following the displacement of water by new developments.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk, sets out the Government's policy for managing flood risk, including that from surface water. It requires local planning authorities to prepare strategic flood risk assessments in consultation with the Environment Agency, which should form the basis for preparing appropriate policies for flood risk management in those areas. Planning applications for development on sites of 1 hectare or greater in areas with low probability of flooding and all proposals in areas with medium and high probability of flooding should be accompanied by a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment. This will identify and assess the risks from all forms of flooding to and from the development, and demonstrate how these flood risks will be managed, so that the development will be safe and will not increase flood risk elsewhere. Annex F of the PPS specifically deals with the management of surface water.

Quarrying: Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 49-50W, on quarrying: public participation, which local authorities have submitted minerals development plan documents for examination.

Iain Wright: The following local authorities have submitted minerals development plan documents for examination:
	Hampshire county council joint with New Forest National Park, Portsmouth and Southampton on 31 May 2006;
	Shropshire county council (two Minerals Development Plan Documents) on 27 October 2006;
	Kent county council (three Minerals Development Plan Documents) on 29 November 2006;
	Suffolk county council on 22 July 2007;
	Lancashire county council joint with Blackburn and Darwen and Blackpool on 30 November 2007;
	Wiltshire county council joint with Swindon on 26 March 2008; and
	North Yorkshire county council on 22 of January 2008.
	The minerals development plan documents for Kent and Shropshire were withdrawn following submission.

Regional Development Agencies: Local Authorities

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities will be represented on the proposed leaders' fora for scrutiny of regional development agencies.

Parmjit Dhanda: On 31 March 2008, the Government published Prosperous Places: Taking forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration. This document states that the Government believe that local authorities should decide the most effective structure for a leaders' forum and that it expects that this will differ between regions. However, each forum should be streamlined, manageable and representative of local government across the region. The consultation seeks views on this proposal and on whether the Government should take powers to intervene if local authorities were unable to reach consensus on a forum that met the criteria set out above or a forum failed to operate effectively.

Regional Planning and Development: Local Authorities

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether new integrated regional strategies will require the agreement of local authorities to be adopted.

Iain Wright: Our consultation document Prosperous Places: Taking forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration, which was published on 31 March, proposes that local authorities would be involved in signing off the draft strategy before the RDA submits it to Ministers for approval. The consultation seeks views on this proposal.

Regional Planning and Development: South West

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from the Environment Agency about the South West Regional Spatial Strategy; which parts of the Strategy the Environment Agency has objected to; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: holding answer 25 April 2008
	The Environment Agency were consulted on the draft Regional Spatial Strategy in the summer of 2006. In their response the Agency supported the sustainable construction, green infrastructure, renewable energy, waste and overarching sustainable development policies. The Agency also:
	sought further amendments to the policies on flood risk, renewable energy and sustainable development;
	advised that the relevant water companies should be consulted with regard to the capacity for accommodating increased sewage flows in Cheltenham, Salisbury, Truro and Swindon and also water supply with regard to the latter;
	raised issues of flood risk in the Plymouth and west of England sub-regions and nature conservation issues in south east Dorset;
	objected to the policy on airports;
	suggested amendments to the text on climate change and CO2 emissions and the relationship between future growth and infrastructure provision.
	The panel appointed to undertake the examination in public (EiP) of the draft RSS considered all of the submitted representations. In drawing up the matters and timetable the panel invited the Environment Agency to participate in further discussions.

Regional Planning and Development: Standards

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has produced on the  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum length of the consultation period for each stage of regional spatial strategies.

Iain Wright: Two rounds of public consultation take place during the revision of a regional spatial strategy (RSS):
	public consultation on Draft RSS, 12 weeks minimum;
	public consultation of Secretary of State's Proposed Changes, eight weeks minimum.
	Government guidance does not set a maximum period for public consultation at the Draft RSS or at the Secretary of State's proposed changes stage.

Regional Planning and Development: Thames Gateway

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the proposed development in the Thames Gateway area entails building on green belt land.

Caroline Flint: There are no proposals in the East of England or South East Regional Spatial Strategies for amending Green Belt boundaries in the Thames Gateway area. Any planning applications for development on Green Belt land must satisfy the national planning policies on Green Belts set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 2. Under this policy, strict planning controls in Green Belt land are in place and there remains a general presumption against inappropriate development within Green Belts. As we reaffirmed in last year's Planning White Paper, the Government have no intention of making fundamental changes to this policy.
	I would also point out that one of the reasons land may be included in the Green Belt is to assist in the urban regeneration of urban land, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other land. The opportunities for urban regeneration in the Thames Gateway are recognised in the Government's investment programme for the area.

Small Businesses: Tax Allowances

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of businesses eligible for small business rate relief in each financial year since April 2005; and how many of these claimed the relief in each year;
	(2)  how much was claimed in small business rate relief by  (a) small businesses and  (b) post offices in each financial year since April 2005;
	(3)  how many post offices claimed small business rate relief in each financial year since April 2005; and what the value of relief claimed by each post office branch was in each year.

John Healey: Local authorities reported there were 392,000 businesses in England in receipt of small business rate relief as at 31 December 2006, the only year for which this information is currently available. Information on the number of businesses who are eligible for small business rate relief is not available.
	Details of the total relief granted since 2005-06 are given, in millions, in the following table:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 202 
			 2006-07 237 
			 2007-08 235 
		
	
	Data for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are outturn figures while the figure for 2007-08 is a forecast.
	It is not possible to say how many post offices claim small business rate relief or the value of the relief granted as we do not collect data on the type of business claiming small business rate relief or the value.

Stamp Duty: Tax Allowances

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1223W, on stamp duties: tax allowances, how many transactions claimed stamp duty tax relief for new zero carbon homes in March 2008.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Of those transactions for which a stamp duty land tax certificate was issued in March 2008, one transaction claimed the stamp duty land tax relief for new zero-carbon homes.
	The tax relief will help kick-start the market for new highly efficient technologies in homes, both for the fabric of the building and in the use of microgeneration, and sets a gold standard for green homes.
	We expect the numbers of qualifying transactions to rise as more properties eligible to claim the relief go on the market. For example, in December 2007 the Government announced details of 200 new homes to be built to a zero-carbon standard in Hanham Hall, near Bristol. The media release can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/611694
	The Government are committed to conducting an interim review of the relief in 2010 which will examine the effectiveness of the relief in stimulating the innovation necessary to ensure that all new homes are built to a zero-carbon standard from 2016.

Valuation Tribunal Service: Non-Domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Tribunal Service's business rates manual.

John Healey: The Valuation Tribunal Service does not have a Business Rates Manual.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh: Climate Change

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has offered to Bangladesh to  (a) promote the development of greener technologies,  (b) counter the impact of climate change and  (c) prevent flooding.

Shahid Malik: We are helping the Government of Bangladesh to develop its national climate change strategy and action plan and we provide support to the comprehensive disaster management programme, which includes disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation. On flood adaptation, we support a 50 million programme which assists poor people to cope with severe floods by raising homesteads. In response to the direct needs from last year's floods and cyclone, we have provided 15 million as disaster relief and early recovery activities to Bangladesh.
	We have recently committed 30 million to climate change adaptation. The programme will protect around 10 million poor and vulnerable people against climate change related disasters such as flood, drought, tidal surges and cyclones. The climate change programme will facilitate access for Bangladesh to major global funds, such as the environmental transformation fund and the multi-billion-dollar global environmental facility. These funds support low-carbon development initiatives through adaptation of greener technologies.

Bangladesh: Energy

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the potential for greener energy generation in Bangladesh.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not carried out any overall assessment in Bangladesh of the potential for greener energy generation.
	However, the Government of Bangladesh, through support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has made assessments on solar, wind, biogas and micro-hydro potentials.
	The World Bank has also carried out assessments on renewable energy and currently supports solar panels in several thousand villages through Grameen Bank's Shakti branch. Germany, Japan and France are also funding various renewable energy and technology transfer projects in Bangladesh.

Burma: Ethnic Groups

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to  (a) provide humanitarian assistance to internally-displaced people and  (b) alleviate the humanitarian situation in Karenni state.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) funds humanitarian assistance to people in Karenni state through:
	the UN Development Programme's Human Development Initiative to improve the livelihoods of poor families in rural areas;
	the Three Diseases Fund which supports the work of CARE, World Vision, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation in fighting HIV, TB and malaria in Karenni State;
	the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) which allocates part of its funding to assistance for internally displaced people inside Karenni State; and
	local faith based organisations which are able to reach internally displaced people in Karenni state from inside Burma.
	DFID funding for TBBC is also used to provide assistance for people from Karenni state who are living as refugees in Thailand.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible; and on what assumptions for  (a) discount and  (b) longevity the estimate is based.

Gillian Merron: Staff employed by the Department for International Development (DFID) are members of one of the five principal civil service pensions schemes and as such DFID cannot identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of these schemes.
	Information on unfunded liabilities can be found in the resource accounts of the Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation:
	www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1990-91.

Gillian Merron: Information on unfunded liabilities in present value terms of the Civil Service pensions schemes can be found in the resource accounts of the Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation at
	www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk.
	This information is only available since 2000-01 and has been produced under differing sets of assumptions (e.g. on longevity) since 1990 and as such is not comparable during the period in question.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the effect on his Department's expenditure would be from increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which his Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Staff employed by the Department for International Development (DFID) are members of one of the five principal civil service pension schemes. Only the Partnership scheme offers the possibility of DFID increasing its expenditure as a result of an increase in employee contributions. In the Partnership scheme DFID matches member contributions up to 3 per cent. of pensionable earnings. Currently 25 DFID staff are members of the Partnership scheme and have varying contribution levels. A 1 per cent. increase will have a very minimal increase to DFID's overall expenditure.

Departmental Public Opinion

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) surveys,  (b) questionnaires and  (c) other services were provided by polling companies for his Department in financial year 2007-08, broken down by company.

Gillian Merron: The various services provided by polling companies in financial year 2007-08 were as follows:
	
		
			  Company  Piece of work  Date 
			 Solutions Strategy Research Qualitative research into ethical shopping April to June 2007 
			 Taylor Nelson Sofres RSGB Questions on omnibus survey to provide interim measure on concern about global poverty among UK adults June 2007 
			 Taylor Nelson Sofres Annual attitudinal tracking survey into public perceptions of global poverty July 2007 
			 ICM Quantitative research to measure UK adults' interest in shopping ethically. November 2007 
			 Creative Research Qualitative stage of audience segmentation research January to February 2008 
			 Taylor Nelson Sofres RSGB Quantitative research (questions on omnibus survey) to measure UK adults interest in shopping ethically for Valentines Day February 2008 
			 Ipsos MORI Quantitative stage of audience segmentation research March to May 2008 
			 GfK NOP Annual survey of young people's attitudes towards global poverty and development issues March to June 2008

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department plans to ask other countries to increase funding to combat HIV/AIDS in developing countries.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government are pushing G8 colleagues to ensure that fulfilling and implementing previous summit commitments is a priority at the G8 Leaders' Summit in July this year. In 2007, the G8 committed to scale up their efforts to achieve Universal Access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, including providing with other donors a projected $60 billion over the coming years. The UK will be pressing G8 and other colleagues to contribute their share towards the goal of Universal Access.
	The UK Government announced an unprecedented long-term commitment of 1 billion for the Global Fund for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria (GFATM) to 2015 at the GFATM replenishment conference in September 2007 and encouraged other governments and agencies to consider committing long-term, predictable financing. At this conference, international donors pledged a total of around $6.3 billion for the three-year period to 2010. The Global Fund Secretariat estimates that a further $3.4 billion has been pledged since then, making a total of $9.7 billion.

Diplomatic Service

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries the head of his Department's field office acts as the senior UK representative for diplomatic purposes.

Gillian Merron: None of the Department for International Development's (DFID) heads of overseas offices act as the senior UK representative for diplomatic purposes in their respective countries.

Gaza: Overseas Aid

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of unplanned financial expenditure incurred by his Department and its implementing agencies in providing assistance to Gaza since the imposition of access restrictions from June 2007.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides its humanitarian assistance through partner agencies such as the UN Relief Works Agency and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The UK also makes a substantial contribution to the World Food Programme's central budget. For these implementing agencies, the partial closure of Gaza's crossings has significantly increased the time and costs involved in importing humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Verified estimates are unavailable, although the World Food Programme has calculated that additional costs created by Israel's food clearance procedures will reach $6 million over the two years from September 2007 to August 2009. As the situation deteriorates, we expect these costs to rise.

Gaza: Overseas Aid

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Government or their implementing agencies have faced delays in importing humanitarian items into Gaza in the last 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: Movement and access restrictions are constricting the flow of urgent humanitarian goods and staff, as well as increasing the cost of humanitarian transfers. The frequency and size of those transfers that do make it into Gaza are insufficient to meet the humanitarian needs of the population.
	The UK continues its diplomatic efforts to ease the situation and we condemn the violence from both sides. DFID is considering support for a UN access cell to facilitate the access of humanitarian staff and goods through the crossing.

River Nile: Climate Change

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) funded on (i) the likely effects of climate change on water levels in the River Nile and (ii) the likely consequences of such changes on the region.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has commissioned no research directly on the impact of climate change on water levels in the Nile and the likely consequences on the region. However, we support the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), a partnership of nine of the 10 countries that share the Nile, which seeks to ensure that the water resources of the Nile are equitably and sustainably managed. The NBI is looking at climate change as part of broader work to predict variations in water availability and the potential of that variability on the region.
	The NBI is supported by a number of donors and DFID has contributed 14 million to this programme since 2004.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Public Order Offences

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) cautioned,  (b) prosecuted and  (c) given a penalty notice for disorder for failing to comply with a request from police (i) not to consume alcohol in an alcohol consumption designated public place and (ii) for failing to surrender alcohol in their possession in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of persons issued with a caution, penalty notice for disorder (PND), and proceeded against at magistrates courts for failing to comply with a request from police not to consume alcohol in an alcohol consumption designated public place, and for failing to surrender alcohol in their possession in England and Wales for 2006 can be viewed in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of persons issued with a caution, and proceeded against at magistrates courts for certain alcohol offences in England and Wales for the year 2006( 1,2,3) 
			   2006 
			  Offence description  Proceeded against  Cautions( 4) 
			 Failure to comply with a requirement by a constable re: the consumption of alcohol in a designated public place 101 13 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Failure to comply with a requirement by a constable re: the consumption of alcohol in a designated public place Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001S.12(2)(a) and (4) (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. Reprimands and final warnings are included in the above data.  Source: Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of persons issued with a penalty notice for disorder for the offence Consumption of alcohol in public place in England and Wales for the year 2006( 1,2,3,4) 
			   Consumption of alcohol  in public place 
			 2006 1,061 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statute: Consume alcohol in designated public place, contrary to requirement by constable not to do so. S.12 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (3) The above PND offence also covers the offence Fail to surrender intoxicating liquor to constable (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) on premises and  (b) off premises licences were (i) suspended and (ii) revoked for selling alcohol to people under the age of 18 years in each of the last five years, broken down by police area.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not held centrally.
	Prior to the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 which came into force on 25 November 2005, data on the number of liquor licences issued under the Licensing Act 1964 (the 1964 Act) in England and Wales were collected by petty sessional divisions (magistrates courts areas), on a three yearly basis. The previous set of data relating to the 1964 Act covered the triennial renewal process when 273 on-licensed and 81 off-licensed premises had their licences revoked in England and Wales between July 2003 and June 2004. These data do not indicate the reason for revocation which could include premises having simply ceased trading. These data are not available broken down by police area.
	The first DCMS Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003, was published on 8 November 2007. This shows that, between April 2006 and March 2007, there were 675 completed reviews which resulted in 92 licences being revoked and 91 being suspended (based upon a 85 per cent. response rate from licensing authorities). The data do not indicate the reason for revocation or suspension, nor by type of licensed premises. Licences may be revoked on review for one or more reasons relating to the four licensing objectives, including sales of alcohol to children.
	There were also 37 personal licences revoked, suspended or declared forfeit by the courts in 2006-07 (80 per cent. response rate). The loss of personal licence could relate to conviction for any one of a number of relevant offences, including the sale of alcohol to children.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine which of the four categories of suffering set out in the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 specific scientific procedures come under.

Meg Hillier: The criteria used to assign severity limits to regulated procedures are set out in paragraphs 5.40 to 5.42 of the Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321). Copies of the guidance have been placed in the House Library.

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals who absconded while subject to a control order under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 have since been located.

Jacqui Smith: In relation to the total number of individuals who absconded while subject to a control order that have been located, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to written ministerial statements in relation to control orders published on 11 December 2006, 16 January 2007, 22 March 2007, 24 May 2007, 21 June 2007, 17 September 2007, 12 December 2007 and 10 March 2008. These statements give as much information as we can provide about the individuals concerned given the national security sensitivities of these cases and the need to avoid publishing any information that could lead to the identification of an individual who is subject to an anonymity order.

Asylum

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of failed asylum seekers in the UK.

Jacqui Smith: Since the phasing out of embarkation controls in 1994, no Government has been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally and that includes failed asylum seekers. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.
	As part of the Government's 10-point plan for delivery, by Christmas 2008 the majority of foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country. This is part of a very wide ranging programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high-risk countries before they land in Britain and ID cards for foreign nationals.

Asylum: Children

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the report of the Children's Commissioner, published on 3 March 2008, insofar as it relates to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; whether she plans to take steps to address such issues; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 March 2008
	The UK Border Agency is carefully considering the report and, before responding formally to each of the recommendations, has met representatives of the Children's Commissioner on 3 April. Work to improve the arrangements for unaccompanied asylum seeking children has already addressed a number of the report's recommendations.

BAE Systems

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what requests the Government have received from the US Department of Justice to assist in its investigation into BAe Systems; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what provisions have been made by the Government to assist the US Department of Justice in its investigation into BAe Systems; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: I refer the hon. Member to previous answers provided on this matter. I can confirm that the Home Office has received a request for assistance from the USA in respect of corruption allegations concerning BAE Systems. The request is being dealt with in accordance with the bi-lateral treaty on mutual legal assistance between the UK and the USA. It would be inappropriate to comment further.

Border and Immigration Agency: Finance

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget of the UK Border Agency is for each of the next three years; how much has been spent on its establishment; and what criteria she proposes to use to assess its effectiveness.

Jacqui Smith: The UK Border Agency was established in shadow form on 1 April 2008. The 2008-09 budget is detailed in the Business plan with total spend of 2,059 million. This budget excludes the transfer from HMRC which is not yet finalised. Future year budgets are not yet finalised.
	Targets and milestones for the UKBA for the period 2008-11 are set out in the agency's business plan which was published earlier this month.

Border and Immigration Agency: Manpower

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) staff and  (b) immigration officers are to be employed in the UK Border Agency in 2008-09.

Jacqui Smith: The number of staff employed by the former Borders and Immigration Agency was 18,246 at the end of February 2008. On 1 April 2008, 2,303 staff transferred from. UK Visas. More than 4,000 further staff are expected to join UKBA from HM Revenue and Customs and the final staff total is expected to be around 25,000.

British Nationality: Armed Forces

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-British citizens who served with British services in  (a) Iraq,  (b) Afghanistan and  (c) other military campaigns have subsequently (i) applied for British citizenship, (ii) been granted and (iii) not been granted British citizenship.

Liam Byrne: This information is not available, as the details requested are not supplied by the applicant when making an application for British citizenship.

Cannabis

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what types of cannabis were seized by police in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the percentage of cannabis seized which was skunk, home grown or sinsemilla in each year.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office collects and publishes figures on seizures by the police in England and Wales of cannabis (herbal), cannabis resin and cannabis plants. Figures for the years 2001 to 2005 (the most recent published period) are shown in the following table.
	The Home Office has undertaken a project to identify the market share of sinsemilla to other forms of cannabis (resin and traditional imported cannabis products) and their respective mean tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) content. The findings of this project, which have been shared with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs as part of its review of the classification of cannabis, will be published in due course. However, an early finding from samples submitted over a three month period in 2007-08 by a number of police forces in England and Wales suggests that sinsemilla accounts for 80 per cent. of the market share of police seizures.
	
		
			  Number and quantity of police( 1)  seizures of cannabis by type( 2) , England and Wales, 2001-05 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005s 
			  Number of seizures  
			 Cannabis (herbal) 28,532 36,911 32,858 38,595 69,766 
			 Cannabis plants 1,711 2,199 2,680 2,780 4,098 
			 Cannabis resin 46,626 44,662 40,976 32,727 38,572 
			 Total cannabis(3) 73,220 74,250 79,600 74,613 111,212 
			   
			  Quantity of seizures (weighed)( 4)  
			 Cannabis (herbal) (kg) 7,183 3,823 13,909 2,789 2,905 
			 Cannabis resin (kg) 20,011 8,657 27,861 21,676 25,045 
			   
			  Quantity of seizures (unweigh t ed)  
			 Cannabis plants (plants) 67,679 52,118 80,498 88,674 208,357 
			 (1) Includes seizures by the National Crime Squad, but not joint operations with HM Revenue and Customs. (2) Categorisation of drug type broadly follows the lists scheduled in the Misuse of Drugs Acts. (3) The totals are lower than the sum of the constituent parts, as some seizures contain more than one drug type. (4) These drug types have been converted from other units using standard conversion factors. These factors were revised in 2005, so 2005 weighed quantities should not be compared with those for previous years. (5) Increases in cannabis seizures in 2005 are thought to be associated with the introduction of cannabis warnings on 1 April 2004.

Community Policing: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on neighbourhood policing in North Yorkshire.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office is not aware of any recent representations made on neighbourhood policing in North Yorkshire specifically. However, neighbourhood policing has now been successfully rolled out across North Yorkshire with 45 dedicated teams providing visible and accessible local policing.

Crimes of Violence

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence against the person were recorded in Bosworth constituency in each of the last five years.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence against the person have been recorded in each constituency in Sussex in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Statistics are not collected specifically on a constituency basis. The Home Office does publish statistics at crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) area level. The number of offences of violence against the person for each of the last five years by CDRP is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/cdrpog.xls
	Also available is a look-up table that identifies which constituencies are associated with CDRPs. In many instances, a CDRP may comprise of more than one constituency. Conversely, some constituencies will come within two or more CDRPs, either wholly or partially. The look-up table is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/cdrp-constituency-table.xls
	Copies of both the statistics table and the look-up table are available in the Library.

Crimes of Violence: Disabled

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disability hate crimes were recorded in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 23 April 2008
	 The Home Office is responsible for the police recorded statistics. Statistics are collected on the number of racially or religiously aggravated offences but no information is available on those offences which are specifically 'disability hate' crimes.

Crimes of Violence: Mentally Ill

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes were committed by people undergoing treatment by out-patient psychiatric services in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available centrally.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the most recent redesign and implementation of her Departmental website.

Liam Byrne: The most recent redevelopment/redesign of the Home Office website was in 2005. Costs were embedded in the business as usual costs for that year and could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Legislation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by her Department since May 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Legislative provisions creating criminal offences are sometimes amended or repealed and re-enacted in modified form, to reflect changes in the law, or to restate the law more conveniently, without significantly altering the underlying legal rule. There are examples of this in legislation passed since May 1997 for which the Home Office retains responsibility, but no examples have been found of criminal offences which have been completely abolished.

Departmental Legislation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new criminal offences have been created by primary legislation sponsored by her Department since July 2007.

Jacqui Smith: New criminal offences were created in the following provisions of primary legislation sponsored by the Home Office since July 2007:
	 UK Borders Act 2007
	Absconding from detention (section 3)
	Assaulting an immigration officer (section 22)
	Wrongful disclosure (section 42)
	 Serious Crime Act 2007
	Failing to comply with serious crime prevention order (section 25)
	Intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence (section 44)
	Encouraging or assisting an offence believing it will be committed (section 45)
	Encouraging or assisting offences believing one or more will be committed (section 46)
	Offences in relation to disclosures of information (section 69)
	Supplementary provision in relation to new powers (section 81)

Departmental Marketing

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on publicity and advertising in 2007-08.

Liam Byrne: In the fiscal year 2007-08, the Home Office spent 8,143,961 on advertising and 1,195,743 on publicity. This expenditure covered public facing campaigns on kerb crawling, alcohol harm reduction, mobile phone theft, passport authentication by interview, Frank drugs campaign, immigration, crime reduction advice and community safety.

Departmental Pay

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in her Department were paid gross remuneration of  (a) between 50,000 and 75,000,  (b) between 75,001 and 100,000,  (c) between 100,001 and 125,000,  (d) between 125,001 and 150,000,  (e) between 150,001 and 175,000,  (f) between 175,001 and 200,000 and  (g) in excess of 200,000 in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Information about the remuneration of senior civil servants in the Home Office is published in the annual departmental report which is available on the Home Office's website. Copies of the report for previous years are available in the House of Commons Library.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what her most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which her Department is responsible; and on what assumptions for  (a) discount and  (b) longevity the estimate is based;
	(2)  what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which her Department is responsible in each year since 1990-91;
	(3)  what the  (a) rate and  (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which her Department has responsibility in each year since 1990-91; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what the effect on her Department's expenditure would be of increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which her Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Individual police authorities rather than the Home Office are required to account for police pension liabilities. Each authority's liability along with details of certain assumptions used in the calculation of the liability are published by each authority in its annual accounts. Data from those accounts are compiled each year by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). These are available either for purchase or via subscription on the CIPF website,
	www.cipfa.org.uk.
	The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) has estimated the unfunded liability of the police pension scheme in England and Wales to have been 70 billion as at 31 March 2006, based on data from police authorities' published resource accounts. This is part of the figure of 650 billion discussed in box 4.3 of the Long-Term Public Finance Report published in March 2008 and available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/A/E/bud08_longterm_586.pdf.
	The discount rates used are also discussed there, but the longevity assumptions used have not generally been disclosed by police authorities.
	The earliest comparable estimates of the unfunded liability of the police pension scheme are in the note placed in Library by my right hon. Friend the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 2 March 2006, which gave combined UK wide figures for the police and fire service pension schemes of 64 billion as at 31 March 2004 and 85 billion as at 31 March 2005, based on data from police and fire authorities' published resource accounts. The note is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/A/foi_publicservicepensions260406.pdf.
	The discount rates used are discussed in that note, but the longevity assumptions used have not generally been disclosed by police authorities. No breakdown of those figures is readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Although we have previously provided some estimates of the police pension scheme's unfunded liability prior to 2004, they were not based on data from police authorities' published resource accounts, and so are not comparable with the aforementioned figures.
	There were no employer contributions for police pensions for the years prior to 2006-07 since until this point police authorities had to meet the cost of pensions in payment out of their operating accounts. However, the system for financing police pensions changed on 1 April 2006. Police authorities now have a separate pensions account, into which they pay officers' contributions and a new employer's contribution. Any shortfall in an authority's pensions account each year is topped up with a grant from central Government; any surplus is recouped. The employer contribution rate is a combined one for both the Police Pension Scheme 1987 (PPS) and the New Police Pension Scheme 2006 (NPPS). In 2006-07 and 2007-08, the employer contribution rate was 24.6 per cent. of each officer's average pensionable pay, and was reduced to 24.2 per cent. with effect from 1 April 2008. Returns from individual authorities show a total employer contribution cost of 1.108 billion for 2006-07 based on forces' unaudited accounts, and 1.151 billion for 2007-08 based on forces' estimates.
	The employee contribution rate for the PPS is currently 11 per cent. of pensionable pay, and 9.5 per cent. for the NPPS. The annual saving from increasing these rates for police officers in England and Wales would be 47 million, based on 1 per cent. of the estimated annual pensionable payroll in 2007-08. Such a change would, in isolation, reduce the call made by police forces on the central Government top-up grant, although this may differ if other changes were introduced at the same time.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which programmes funded by her Department have experienced a real terms reduction in their annual budget for the 2007-08 financial year; and what the budget was in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 in each case.

Tony McNulty: Budgets reflect internal allocations for both capital and resource expenditure within departmental expenditure limits. For consistency, budgets are stated at their opening position in each year.
	Home Office budget plans are reviewed on a regular basis in response to the changing nature of the Department's business. For the financial year 2007-08, security and counter-terrorism, crime and policing, and identity and passports programmes received increased resources.
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08  Nominal percentage change 
			 Counter terrorism and intelligence 564 770 37 
			 Crime and policing 6,667 6,849 3 
			 Identity and Passport Service 99 130 3 
		
	
	The costs of the UK Border Agency borne by the taxpayer were reduced in real terms as a result of increases in the level of income generated by managed migration activities. As a result, the Home Office increased its gross expenditure on borders and immigration in 2007-08 compared to 2006-07.

Departmental Renewable Energy

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much energy in kilowatt hours was purchased by her Department from renewable sources in each year between 1997-98 and 2005-06.

Liam Byrne: Renewable electricity was first purchased by my Department in 2000-01 and the figures up to and including 2005-06, are given in the following table. We do not currently use any other forms of renewable energy.
	
		
			   kWh renewable electricity purchased 
			 2005-06 65,502,271 
			 2004-05 62,505,257 
			 2003-04 58,067,730 
			 2002-03 53,827,816 
			 2001-02 24,962,370 
			 2000-01 4,628,468 
			 1999-2000 0 
			 1998-99 0 
			 1997-98 0

Departmental Sustainable Development

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to publish its sustainable operations policy statement.

Liam Byrne: In order to meet the requirements of the sustainable operations in Government targets, a new sustainable operations policy statement has been prepared and will be issued in the next few months following approval by the relevant Home Office boards.

Deportation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of memoranda of understanding signed with  (a) Libya,  (b) Algeria and  (c) Jordan.

Jacqui Smith: The UK has Memoranda of Understanding with Libya, Jordan and Lebanon which make provision for the protection of the human rights of, and set out the arrangements for seeking further assurances in respect of, people facing deportation to those countries. We do not have a Memorandum of Understanding with Algeria on this subject. Separate arrangements for seeking assurances in individual cases apply.
	In the light of the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal in the case of two Libyan nationals, AS and DD, we have decided to discontinue deportation action in those cases, and in the cases of 10 other Libyan nationals.
	We are seeking leave to appeal to the House of Lords against the Court of Appeal's ruling in the case of Abu Qatada, who is a Jordanian national.
	Eight people have been deported to Algeria under the arrangements with that country after withdrawing their appeals against the decision to deport them, and I am satisfied with the way these arrangements are operating.
	I remain of the view that diplomatic assurances in the context of deportation are a legitimate means of safeguarding the human rights of the individuals concerned, and contribute to the process of assessing whether or not to seek to deport particular individuals to those countries.

Detection Rates

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the crime detection rate in  (a) each police force and  (b) England and Wales was in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is given in the following table.
	The non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances.
	
		
			  Detection rates for all recorded offences by police force area, 1997 to 2006-07 
			  Police force area  1997  1998-99( 1)  1999-2000( 2)  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 26 24 22 21 14 15 15 17 23 24 
			 Bedfordshire 35 33 25 27 25 26 23 28 25 22 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 15 16 17 20 24 
			 Cambridgeshire 27 29 25 24 22 22 23 23 27 25 
			 Cheshire 36 37 31 30 26 26 27 26 27 27 
			 Cleveland 25 23 22 21 20 23 21 24 30 31 
			 Cumbria 40 44 39 34 32 31 32 30 35 36 
			 Derbyshire 25 31 28 26 25 26 25 28 27 26 
			 Devon and Cornwall 32 36 35 34 32 29 29 30 28 27 
			 Dorset 29 31 26 25 27 25 26 28 30 30 
			 Durham 31 33 32 34 33 34 29 29 27 30 
			 Dyfed-Powys 61 69 65 63 64 68 47 43 45 45 
			 Essex 27 29 30 26 26 27 28 27 31 33 
			 Gloucestershire 24 31 31 32 30 29 28 27 32 33 
			 Greater Manchester 20 25 23 22 21 22 22 23 25 25 
			 Gwent 51 55 53 57 55 48 45 42 36 33 
			 Hampshire 30 35 32 29 29 30 27 28 24 23 
			 Hertfordshire 32 34 27 24 24 23 25 29 26 29 
			 Humberside 20 22 19 21 20 20 19 20 23 25 
			 Kent 31 34 33 28 28 28 25 23 26 26 
			 Lancashire 29 34 29 27 26 27 27 30 32 35 
			 Leicestershire 34 34 30 28 28 27 22 25 30 28 
			 Lincolnshire 48 40 28 25 27 23 22 25 26 28 
			 London, City of 26 33 32 27 34 36 33 36 43 39 
			 Merseyside 31 31 26 28 24 25 27 30 28 29 
			 Metropolitan Police 26 22 16 15 14 14 15 21 24 21 
			 Norfolk 37 37 30 26 25 24 26 28 31 30 
			 Northamptonshire 35 33 33 33 31 28 28 29 25 26 
			 Northumbria 26 30 31 31 31 31 30 29 35 40 
			 North Wales 34 43 36 31 28 29 33 42 43 48 
			 North Yorkshire 26 33 31 30 26 26 28 35 35 33 
			 Nottinghamshire 28 25 21 20 18 16 18 20 22 23 
			 South Wales 36 39 31 31 33 29 29 29 26 25 
			 South Yorkshire 29 32 25 25 23 21 24 26 27 26 
			 Staffordshire 35 32 22 23 20 31 33 35 35 35 
			 Suffolk 37 41 36 35 33 34 33 32 30 31 
			 Surrey 33 40 32 28 25 22 22 26 25 30 
			 Sussex 26 25 25 23 25 24 24 25 30 31 
			 Thames Valley 24 25 20 22 24 25 23 26 28 25 
			 Warwickshire 27 26 22 22 25 26 25 27 25 27 
			 West Mercia 28 34 29 28 28 33 31 34 34 34 
			 West Midlands 24 30 27 28 29 26 25 23 26 27 
			 West Yorkshire 27 27 25 23 19 20 20 25 28 29 
			 Wiltshire 32 38 33 29 30 28 28 29 32 26 
			
			 England and Wales 28 29 25 24 22 24 23 26 27 27 
			 n/a = not available (1) The number of crimes detected in that financial year using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998. (2) New instructions which clarified the rules for detecting crime were introduced on 1 April 1999.  Note: It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances.

Entry Clearances

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are applied in determining a visa application from an individual accused of promoting race hate.

Liam Byrne: The Home Secretary may exclude from the UK any person where she judges that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good. A person so excluded will be refused a visa or permission to enter the UK should they make such an application. In August 2005 the then Home Secretary published a list of certain behaviours which, if engaged in, would normally lead to a person being excluded or deported from the UK. That list includes the expression of views that
	foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK.
	Those who promote race hate fall within this provision.

Forced Marriage

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps the Government has taken to reduce the number of forced marriages;
	(2)  what steps the Government has taken to assist those who have been subject to forced marriage.

Vernon Coaker: In January 2005, the joint Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) was set up by the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	The FMU leads on Government policy on forced marriage and has developed guidelines for professionals (the police, education professionals, health and social workers) on how to deal with cases of forced marriage. In addition, as part of the National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan, the FMU coordinates an outreach programme to raise awareness of the problem, and runs a dedicated support and advice helpline for victims of forced marriage. The FMU also works with embassies and high commissions overseas to rescue and repatriate those British citizens forced into marriage overseas.
	Last year the FMU:
	assisted approximately 400 victims of forced marriage (168 of these were overseas cases);
	spoke at over 80 awareness raising events around the country;
	contributed to the passage through Parliament of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. One of the provisions of the Act is to make the guidelines for professionals statutory; and also
	assisted in the development of the 'Honour Network'a helpline to support survivors of forced marriage.
	We have also established an Honour Based Violence Steering Group, led by the Home Office, to identify actions and develop a work programme to address honour based violence and also develop a more dedicated approach to respond to the needs of Black, Asian and minority ethnic victims of domestic violence over the next few years.

Genetics

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the advantages and disadvantages of taking mandatory DNA samples from all UK citizens as part of her policy formulation on DNA sampling; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 24 April 2008
	We have no current proposals for the establishment of a universal database for DNA. There are practical and ethical implications of moving to such a position and any proposal to do so would need to be subject to lengthy and detailed public debate.

Genetics

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Forensic Science Service has taken to ensure compliance with the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods' standards.

Meg Hillier: The Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) standards refers to guidelines that were written primarily for assisting North American forensic laboratories in meeting defined quality standards. Forensic Science Service Ltd. (FSS) operates to a forensic science quality framework that incorporates independent accreditation of the organisation's scientific methods, and standards employed for validating techniques, to the international quality standard IS017025, (General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories). The FSS is also registered as compliant with the international quality standard IS09001 (Quality Management Systems). The FSS' validation standards and the SWGDAM validation guidelines are similar; however as an additional measure since December 2007, the FSS has implemented a process that involves checking against the SWGDAM validation guidelines when implementing new DNA techniques into casework. The FSS has shared its standards for technique validation with the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes, who have adopted them in their own published guidelines for validation, with which the FSS are fully compliant.

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the average annual cost is of storing a DNA sample with a company or organisation that analyses such samples for the purposes of producing profiles for the national DNA database; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how much the Department has spent storing DNA samples with companies and organisations that analyse samples for the purposes of producing profiles for the national DNA database in each year since it became operational  (a) in total and  (b) broken down by organisation or company; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what information accompanies a DNA sample sent to a company or organisation for the purposes of producing a profile for the national DNA database; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  how many DNA samples are stored by companies or organisations that analyse samples for the purpose of producing profiles for the national DNA database  (a) in total and  (b) broken down by company or organisation; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The costs of processing and storing DNA samples fall to individual police forces and are dependent on the contractual agreement between the force and their forensic supplier or suppliers. This information is commercially confidential.
	The information accompanying a DNA sample taken under Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 powers from a person arrested for a recordable offence which is sent to a company or organisation for the purposes of producing a profile for the national DNA database is as follows:
	a barcode number from the sampling kit;
	a police national computer arrest summons report number;
	a force custody number (if available);
	surname of the person sampled;
	forenames;
	date of birth;
	whether male or female;
	an indicator of ethnic appearance;
	whether the sample is taken from a mouth swab or hair roots;
	the date the sample was taken;
	whether the sample is a resample;
	a code number showing which police force took the sample and at which police station;
	the ID number and surname of the police officer taking the sample;
	one of the following indicators of the type of offence for which the person sampled was arrested: homicide; rape; robbery; other violent crime; other sex offences; domestic burglary; other burglary; theft of vehicle; theft from vehicle; criminal damage; drugs offences; other recordable offence;
	exhibit number (if known);
	police reference/crime number (if known).
	Information is not held on the number of samples held by each forensic supplier.

Genetics: Databases

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people  (a) without a criminal conviction and  (b) in total had their profiles recorded on the national DNA database in each of the last three years.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 28 April 2008
	 I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 761W.

Hemp

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the licensing regime for industrial hemp cultivation in preventing illegal drug production.

Vernon Coaker: Cultivation was first permitted in 1992 since when it has not given rise to any significant problems.

Illegal Immigrants: Restaurants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration raids have taken place on eating establishments in each month since 1 January.

Liam Byrne: There is no published information on how many immigration raids have taken place on eating establishments in each month since 1 January.

Illegal Immigrants: Restaurants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were found to be working illegally in the restaurant industry in  (a) 2007 and  (b) each month in 2008.

Liam Byrne: There is no published information on how many people were found to be working illegally in the restaurant industry in  (a) 2007 and  (b) each month in 2008.

Immigration

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis is of her estimate that the annual inflow of immigrants contributes 6 billion to the economy; and what estimate she has made of the annual expenditure of immigrants on goods and services, including repatriated earnings.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 April 2008
	The evidential basis for the impact of migration on trend economic growth is set out in the joint Home OfficeDWP submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs, The economic and fiscal impact of immigration.
	According to official data from the Office for National Statistics, migration added around 0.5 percentage points per annum to growth in the working age population between mid 2001 and mid 2006, and, therefore to overall trend output growth. On this basis, the contribution of migration to economic growth in 2006 would have been some 6 billion.
	The trend growth framework employed by the Treasury, and the impact of migration on the trend growth projection, is set out in Trend growth: new evidence and prospects, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/3/1/pbr06_trendgrowth_345.pdf.
	The information requested on expenditure and remittances falls within the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics. No statistics are collected on expenditure by immigrants on goods and services. The available information on remittance payments was laid out in a letter from the National Statistician to Lord Lament of Lerwick on 19 November 2007,  Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA47-48, in answer to his parliamentary question of that date, to which I refer the hon. Member.

Immigration Officers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has given on the distance a designated officer may pursue an individual they have detained or attempted to detain at a port who subsequently leaves the port under the powers in section 2 of the UK Borders Act 2007.

Jacqui Smith: I reported to the House on 3 April on the creation of the UK Border Agency, setting out the purpose and power of the agency to protect our border and making reference to the delivery of new powers to front line officers, including the powers in section 2 of the UK Borders Act.
	Full guidance and suitable training will be provided to designated officers before they exercise the section 2 powers. In relation to pursuit, guidance will reflect that this power was introduced to enable a designated immigration officer to go to the immediate vicinity outside the port for the purpose of returning to the port an individual who has absconded from detention.
	The guidance will also reflect that in practise, the use of the pursuit power will need to be assessed dynamically on a case by case basis by the designated officer, while weighing benefits against risk and taking full account of their own and their colleagues' safety, as well as that of the individual and members of the public.

Immigration: Housing

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 276W, on immigration: housing, how much funding is available for local authorities in the transitional costs fund; how much has been disbursed; which local authorities have received funding; and over what timescale such funding will be available.

Liam Byrne: The financial support available will depend on the claims made by local authorities. Funding will be available for some items of expenditure incurred by local authorities on an agreed cohort of supported families cases processed by the Agency. We cannot therefore accurately estimate the level of funding required.
	At the present time no payments have been made to any local authority. Support will be made available to individual authorities for a maximum of six months after they have begun to incur qualifying expenditure.

Immigration: Iraq

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi nationals were granted asylum in the UK in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of Iraq nationals granted asylum in the United Kingdom is published in the annual Statistical Bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom. Provisional figures for 2007 are published in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics Fourth Quarter 2007. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Immigration: Pakistan

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of immigration applications from Pakistan claiming Afghan refugee status in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. Copies of asylum publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Immigration: Standards

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps will be taken to reduce queuing and waiting times at ports and borders, as referred to in the UK Borders Agency Business Plan; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 April 2008
	The UK Border Agency is committed to improving the customer experience at our borders and we continue to engage with port operators to deliver this. Work on a set of port by port national standards is already under way and this will be rolled out from June 2008.
	The UK Border Agency is also working with the Department for Transport to implement an action plan (as published in November 2007), which will set new standards for the processing of passengers on arrival for implementation over the course of 2008.
	Also during the course of 2008 we shall be introducing Service Level Agreements with port operators which will include:
	agreed port by port targets for major locations and mechanisms for monitoring and reporting performance against them;
	ways of best matching the availability of frontline Border offices and predicted passenger flows; and
	a more coordinated approach to flight scheduling to prevent unnecessary pressures when large numbers of flights arrive at the same time.
	We would expect these plans to be completed in time to deliver real operational benefits over the course of 2008.
	In addition to this we have already implemented the following:
	queuing levels are continually monitored and managed and are reported regularly to senior officials;
	flexible response teams are deployed to port operations during peak periods as was the case last summer; and
	we continue to expand and develop new technologies that might add further relief to queue length and enrolment on IRIS now exceeds 190,000 passengers with over one million crossings through the gates to date.
	The level of staff engaged in frontline Border Force activity is at an all time high and we are committed to facilitating the passage of legitimate travellers and goods, without delay at all ports.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer the letter of 26 February 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Naima Alam Manzura.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 8 April 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer the letter of 24 January 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr. S. Kadha Hassan Ahmad.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 16 April 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 19 March 2008, on the proposed abolition of the ancestry visa (reference: M4545/8).

Liam Byrne: holding answer 28 April 2008
	I replied to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on 25 April 2008.

Missing Persons: Databases

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces are using computerised data systems for management and recording of missing persons reports.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 28 April 2008
	All police forces in England and Wales use some form of computer system for the management and recording of missing persons reports. The details of the systems that each police force has in place are given in the following table. This information was obtained from the October 2007 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Inspection Reports on Protecting Vulnerable PeopleMissing Persons, in combination with research carried out by the Missing Persons Bureau (MPB).
	A total of 20 police forces use WPC Software's Community Policing and Case Tracking (COMPACT) computer system to record and manage their missing persons' cases. Electronic data transfer between 'COMPACT' forces and the MPB's 'Hermes' system is being arranged.
	Automatic data transfer mechanisms for the other systems are being investigated.
	At a national level, the MPB use Hermes, which is a purpose-built electronic database, developed and implemented by the Missing People charity through the Invest to Save Initiative in 2004-05. The shared technology between the MPB and the charity facilitates effective transfer of data between the two organisations and collaborative efforts on research and analysis projects.
	All police forces and the MPB also have access to the Police National Computer (PNC). The national Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons indicates that officers should record details of all missing persons reported to them on the PNC within 48 hours.
	
		
			  Force  Paper or Electronic  System details 
			 Avon and Somerset Electronic 'Guardian' used. 
			 Bedfordshire Electronic WPC Community Policing and Case Tracking (COMPACT) used. 
			 Cambridgeshire Electronic 'Lotus Notes' database linked to 'Intrepid' and Police National Computer (PNC). 
			 Cheshire Electronic High risk missing person cases are managed via 'PROMS', otherwise 'ATLAS' used. 
			 City of London Police Electronic 'Integra' (incident management) used. 
			 Cleveland Police Electronic MS 'Access' database used. The force also uses 'Intergraph' CC system linked to 'IRIS'. 
			 Cumbria Constabulary Electronic 'SLEUTH' used. 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Dorset Police Electronic Bespoke missing persons case management system. 
			 Durham Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Essex Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Greater Manchester Police Electronic Bespoke system called 'OPUS'. 
			 Gwent Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Hampshire Constabulary Electronic Niche 'RMS' used. 
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Humberside Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Kent Police Electronic 'STORM' used. 
			 Lancashire Constabulary Electronic 'SLEUTH' used. 
			 Leicestershire Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Lincolnshire Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Merseyside Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Metropolitan Police Electronic 'Merlin' used. 
			 Norfolk Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 North Wales Police Electronic 'iTrace' used. 
			 North Yorkshire Police Electronic Niche 'RMS' used. 
			 Northamptonshire Police Electronic 'CHAMPION' used. 
			 Northumbria Police Electronic 'CIS' used. 
			 Nottinghamshire Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 South Wales Police Electronic Niche 'RMS' used. 
			 South Yorkshire Police Electronic 'iTrace' used. 
			 Staffordshire Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Suffolk Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 Surrey Police Electronic 'CIS' used. 
			 Sussex Police Electronic 'CIF' database used. 
			 Thames Valley Police Electronic Bespoke system. 
			 Warwickshire Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 West Mercia Constabulary Electronic A 'COMPACT' force. 
			 West Midlands Police Electronic A 'COMPACT' force 
			 West Yorkshire Police Electronic 'IBIS' command and control system used linked to 'OIS' and 'CORVUS' 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary Electronic Bespoke system linked to Niche 'RMS'

Missing Persons: Young People

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years were reported missing to the police in each police force area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 28 April 2008
	Figures for the number of children and young people who are reported missing from home are not collected centrally and this is a matter for individual police forces.

Motorcycles: Training

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the police record the occasions on which they request evidence that a rider of a motorcycle with an engine capacity under 50cc has undertaken compulsory basic training.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for the police.

Police Interrogation: Speech Impaired

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are issued on the procedure and protocol which a police officer must follow in  (a) questioning and  (b) physically taking hold of a person with a speech impediment observed to be under the influence of neither drugs nor alcohol, when the officer cannot understand what the suspect is saying.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 24 April 2008
	The Code of Practice for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers (Code C) issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, provides that if a person appears to be blind, seriously visually impaired, deaf, unable to read or speak or has difficulty orally because of a speech impediment they shall be treated as such while in police detention. A person with speech difficulties must not be interviewed in the absence of an interpreter unless they agree in writing to being interviewed without one. Where there is doubt about the speaking ability of a parent or guardian attending as an appropriate adult, an interpreter should also be called unless they agree in writing to the interview being proceeding without one.

Police Stations

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1320W, on police stations, how many  (a) police kiosks,  (b) mobile police stations,  (c) police shops in high streets and  (d) other public access methods are operated by the police in England and Wales, broken down by police authority.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 April 2008
	The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for each police authority and the Chief Officer, who are responsible for assessing local needs.

Police: Accidents

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many accidents involving police  (a) pursuit and  (b) patrol cars and drivers and members of the public resulting in serious injuries or death there were in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many police vehicles were involved in road accidents resulting in  (a) slight injuries,  (b) serious injuries and  (c) fatalities in the last five years;
	(3)  how many and what percentage of police vehicles involved in accidents while responding to an emergency or otherwise in pursuit were  (a) motorway patrol vehicles,  (b) armed response vehicles and  (c) other police vehicles in each year since 1995.

Tony McNulty: The data provided here are a supplementary series collected on behalf and released with the approval of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary (HMIC). These data are normally used for inspection purposes only.
	The centrally collected data on road traffic collisions are as follows:
	1. Road traffic collisions on public roads involving police vehicles.
	2. Road traffic collisions on public roads during immediate/emergency response and police pursuit.
	3. For the road traffic collisions at No. 2., the number of casualties and the degree of injury.
	These data have been collected centrally from 2002-03 and are provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of road traffic collisions on public roads involving police vehicles by police force area, from 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			   RTCs involving police vehicles  RTCs also involving non-police vehicles  RTCs involving police vehicles  RTCs also involving non-police vehicles  RTCs involving police vehicles  RTCs also involving non-police vehicles  RTCs involving police vehicles  RTCs also involving non-police vehicles  RTCs involving police vehicles  RTCs also involving non-police vehicles 
			 Avon and Somerset 647 490 618 485 541 409 501 372 508 404 
			 Bedfordshire 196 161 242 208 221 150 243 186 231 180 
			 Cambridgeshire 217 152 233 139 264 169 154 106 169 0 
			 Cheshire 167 142 253 220 242 223 152 130 179 161 
			 Cleveland 142 93 55 40 0 0 216 92 192 72 
			 Cumbria 186 111 207 127 213 122 177 93 128 82 
			 Derbyshire 447 127 452 128 320 146 343 153 328 130 
			 Devon and Cornwall 449 308 415 301 450 178 406 166 388 179 
			 Dorset 184 141 198 165 189 161 179 147 197 (1) 
			 Durham (1) (1) 209 152 175 131 126 93 122 87 
			 Dyfed-Powys 204 27 67 20 221 70 176 36 106 36 
			 Essex 414 306 345 259 327 245 391 259 607 254 
			 Gloucestershire 203 118 162 104 225 (1) 198 106 205 (1) 
			 Greater Manchester 1,038 815 1,075 772 925 688 888 656 853 627 
			 Gwent 160 94 219 99 194 109 205 126 75 33 
			 Hampshire 543 346 627 313 499 284 564 305 570 301 
			 Hertfordshire 344 253 346 246 314 256 343 238 340 242 
			 Humberside 150 92 238 124 204 110 179 96 247 138 
			 Kent 732 271 593 244 697 195 564 250 513 194 
			 Lancashire 510 93 489 91 412 80 422 50 557 99 
			 Leicestershire 180 145 194 145 (1) (1) 184 34 185 47 
			 Lincolnshire 131 85 181 126 179 117 133 26 151 111 
			 London, City of 38 31 107 56 64 41 77 44 147 106 
			 Merseyside 240 225 297 253 244 211 273 226 270 231 
			 Metropolitan Police 4,910 2,590 5,284 4,401 5,318 4,448 4,666 2,750 4,333 3,518 
			 Norfolk 231 162 313 167 317 140 290 137 226 137 
			 Northamptonshire 121 107 104 86 139 129 97 79 122 115 
			 Northumbria 513 360 473 215 504 328 565 398 410 267 
			 North Wales 60 54 80 59 81 68 72 74 74 66 
			 North Yorkshire 397 16 126 18 77 67 32 31 23 17 
			 Nottinghamshire 316 194 62 51 287 181 595 181 266 172 
			 South Wales 917 202 862 162 0 0 749 172 789 170 
			 South Yorkshire 316 (1) 354 293 380 316 213 112 291 159 
			 Staffordshire 306 156 536 178 410 150 568 162 377 111 
			 Suffolk 119 74 179 84 228 124 178 62 193 97 
			 Surrey 320 124 357 151 432 187 416 147 422 172 
			 Sussex 470 257 256 160 237 139 214 97 260 152 
			 Thames Valley 992 256 1,057 478 802 506 994 598 824 600 
			 Warwickshire 119 64 155 99 123 66 128 68 114 68 
			 West Mercia 293 183 256 158 254 158 281 163 303 175 
			 West Midlands (1) (1) 1,418 765 1,488 774 1,183 700 1,123 600 
			 West Yorkshire 672 540 761 596 783 598 883 547 720 334 
			 Wiltshire 50 0 56 0 66 3 62 8 70 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of road traffic collisions during immediate/emergency response and police pursuit by police force area ,  from 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			   RTCs from immediate response/pursuit  Those involving injury  RTCs from immediate response/pursuit  Those involving injury  RTCs from immediate response/pursuit  Those involving injury 
			 Avon and Somerset 242 22 290 328 237 56 
			 Bedfordshire 126 18 156 30 111 24 
			 Cambridgeshire 103 10 96 10 107 20 
			 Cheshire 58 18 42 12 88 27 
			 Cleveland 88 18 28 4 0 0 
			 Cumbria 50 9 34 5 42 6 
			 Derbyshire 81 26 71 15 94 28 
			 Devon and Cornwall 58 19 66 16 73 9 
			 Dorset 37 9 17 8 (1) (1) 
			 Durham (1) (1) 108 28 101 16 
			 Dyfed-Powys 2 0 1 0 2 0 
			 Essex 127 23 22 22 21 21 
			 Gloucestershire 57 24 60 5 55 12 
			 Greater Manchester 185 49 198 43 196 62 
			 Gwent 47 7 52 11 39 5 
			 Hampshire 163 8 90 10 60 7 
			 Hertfordshire 150 40 73 16 152 42 
			 Humberside 53 13 33 11 52 11 
			 Kent 198 25 96 80 144 20 
			 Lancashire 62 17 56 15 53 11 
			 Leicestershire 62 18 83 8 (1) (1) 
			 Lincolnshire 38 8 62 14 60 14 
			 London, City of 7 0 21 2 14 1 
			 Merseyside 100 39 116 51 75 38 
			 Metropolitan Police 2,292 166 2,441 483 2,399 468 
			 Norfolk 41 15 41 19 48 19 
			 Northamptonshire 53 11 55 14 59 17 
			 Northumbria 198 53 167 42 179 65 
			 North Wales 18 7 16 6 11 19 
			 North Yorkshire 48 23 0 0 21 6 
			 Nottinghamshire 127 13 49 49 19 5 
			 South Wales 151 18 124 7 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 98 27 95 79 52 21 
			 Staffordshire 106 26 98 30 63 8 
			 Suffolk 37 7 57 14 39 10 
			 Surrey 118 24 104 22 156 26 
			 Sussex 147 42 90 36 76 27 
			 Thames Valley 222 97 217 84 321 45 
			 Warwickshire 22 5 42 11 37 10 
			 West Mercia 56 21 49 16 50 20 
			 West Midlands (1) (1) 247 33 243 44 
			 West Yorkshire 258 15 163 7 169 7 
			 Wiltshire 17 5 14 4 15 7 
		
	
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			   RTCs from i mmediate response/pursuit  Those involving injury  RTCs from immediate response/pursuit  Those involving injury 
			 Avon and Somerset 210 42 209 (1) 
			 Bedfordshire 113 17 98 12 
			 Cambridgeshire 52 9 73 0 
			 Cheshire 37 13 48 11 
			 Cleveland 83 27 100 21 
			 Cumbria 33 5 32 3 
			 Derbyshire 91 6 79 9 
			 Devon and Cornwall 85 7 91 12 
			 Dorset 56 15 27 2 
			 Durham 52 14 54 13 
			 Dyfed-Powys 2 0 3 0 
			 Essex 67 14 92 22 
			 Gloucestershire 48 6 59 8 
			 Greater Manchester 176 53 157 51 
			 Gwent 49 9 38 5 
			 Hampshire 94 15 104 10 
			 Hertfordshire 140 25 141 38 
			 Humberside 34 7 72 15 
			 Kent 161 20 80 8 
			 Lancashire 57 16 56 12 
			 Leicestershire 82 11 82 16 
			 Lincolnshire 37 14 43 6 
			 London, City of 17 4 1 0 
			 Merseyside 113 83 88 27 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,894 284 2,030 335 
			 Norfolk 34 10 56 10 
			 Northamptonshire 41 13 47 11 
			 Northumbria 188 60 131 43 
			 North Wales 13 1 20 10 
			 North Yorkshire 12 11 14 14 
			 Nottinghamshire 58 13 55 9 
			 South Wales 137 3 124 1 
			 South Yorkshire 15 5 52 14 
			 Staffordshire 68 6 74 17 
			 Suffolk 14 5 38 10 
			 Surrey 148 23 155 20 
			 Sussex 77 36 6 11 
			 Thames Valley 352 89 373 40 
			 Warwickshire 42 8 44 8 
			 West Mercia 57 18 53 15 
			 West Midlands 236 21 221 12 
			 West Yorkshire 123 24 197 52 
			 Wiltshire 16 2 9 3 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of casualties resulting from those road traffic accidents during immediate/emergency response by police force area, from 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			   Fatal injury  Serious injury  Other injury  Fatal injury  Serious injury  Other injury  Fatal injury  Serious injury  Other injury 
			 Avon and Somerset 2 7 53 2 6 74 0 9 52 
			 Bedfordshire 0 2 16 1 1 56 1 1 27 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 6 6 0 4 12 0 0 26 
			 Cheshire 0 2 27 0 1 17 0 7 29 
			 Cleveland 0 0 18 1 0 3 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 8 0 0 5 0 0 6 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 38 0 1 25 1 0 35 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 1 26 1 1 64 0 0 18 
			 Dorset 0 1 10 1 2 9 (1) (1) (1) 
			 Durham 0 1 41 2 1 36 0 1 26 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 2 32 2 3 36 1 3 35 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 24 0 0 4 0 0 12 
			 Greater Manchester 4 5 74 6 9 56 4 2 106 
			 Gwent 0 0 12 0 0 24 0 0 5 
			 Hampshire 1 7 29 0 3 7 0 0 7 
			 Hertfordshire 0 6 59 0 2 16 0 5 61 
			 Humberside 0 4 19 0 1 25 0 0 18 
			 Kent 0 2 48 0 7 73 0 2 23 
			 Lancashire 0 1 31 0 2 30 1 0 19 
			 Leicestershire 1 2 15 0 2 16 (1) (1) (1) 
			 Lincolnshire 0 2 10 0 5 18 2 2 12 
			 London, City of 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 
			 Merseyside 3 3 62 3 6 75 0 3 58 
			 Metropolitan Police 5 14 (1) 4 21 600 4 23 724 
			 Norfolk 1 1 17 1 1 28 0 6 26 
			 Northamptonshire 0 1 14 1 6 19 0 4 22 
			 Northumbria 0 3 62 0 3 70 3 13 94 
			 North Wales 0 0 18 0 1 5 0 0 3 
			 North Yorkshire (1) (1) (1) 0 2 13 0 2 7 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 5 8 1 8 57 1 0 4 
			 South Wales 0 0 20 0 0 9 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 3 24 0 12 67 2 10 83 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 26 0 1 29 0 0 1 
			 Suffolk 0 1 6 0 3 11 0 2 8 
			 Surrey 0 2 40 1 2 33 0 1 31 
			 Sussex 0 7 45 0 6 27 2 0 31 
			 Thames Valley 3 13 115 2 11 122 0 6 71 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 5 0 1 10 2 0 8 
			 West Mercia 0 4 30 0 2 22 0 4 32 
			 West Midlands 1 1 61 2 2 44 0 0 44 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 15 0 0 7 0 2 5 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 8 0 0 4 0 0 11 
		
	
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			   Fatal injury  Serious injury  Other injury  Fatal injury  Serious injury  Other injury 
			 Avon and Somerset 2 3 68 0 8 42 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 17 1 2 11 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 10 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 5 30 0 2 18 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 1 8 
			 Cumbria 2 0 3 0 0 3 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 6 0 0 16 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 15 0 1 20 
			 Dorset 1 1 17 0 1 7 
			 Durham 0 2 13 0 1 21 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 1 4 17 0 0 22 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 6 (1) (1) (1) 
			 Greater Manchester 1 3 91 6 6 64 
			 Gwent 0 1 13 0 0 7 
			 Hampshire 1 7 10 1 5 4 
			 Hertfordshire 2 3 45 0 11 48 
			 Humberside 0 0 12 1 0 19 
			 Kent 1 1 18 0 0 12 
			 Lancashire 0 0 28 0 2 32 
			 Leicestershire 0 1 10 0 1 15 
			 Lincolnshire 0 1 13 0 0 6 
			 London, City of 0 1 6 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 3 3 136 1 4 88 
			 Metropolitan Police 4 33 584 4 26 496 
			 Norfolk 0 0 10 0 0 10 
			 Northamptonshire 0 1 18 1 7 13 
			 Northumbria 1 5 84 1 5 64 
			 North Wales 0 0 1 0 0 24 
			 North Yorkshire 0 2 10 0 11 16 
			 Nottinghamshire (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) 
			 South Wales 0 0 3 0 0 1 
			 South Yorkshire 0 2 11 0 33 35 
			 Staffordshire 1 0 5 0 0 17 
			 Suffolk 1 1 4 0 0 16 
			 Surrey 0 1 31 0 2 24 
			 Sussex 5 0 23 0 0 43 
			 Thames Valley 0 2 127 3 6 56 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 8 0 0 8 
			 West Mercia 0 2 26 0 1 23 
			 West Midlands 0 0 31 0 0 12 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 24 0 0 52 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 4 0 0 4 
			 (1) Data are not available.

Police: Airports

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 11-12WS, on policing (UK borders), how much each airport operator has reimbursed police authorities for the costs of uniformed police officers at airports designated under section 25 of the Aviation Security Act 1982 in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 March 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer on this matter of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 612W.
	This information is not held centrally. There is no requirement for the police or airport operator to provide Government with the details of the agreed policing provision or the related costs. The number and cost of uniformed police officers at designated airports is for negotiation at local level by the airport operator and police.
	However, the Government are also considering how to implement the conclusions of the independent report into airport policing, with the aim of clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the police, airport operators and other agencies to deliver a high level of security at UK airports and we will set out proposals on this later in the year.

Police: Internet

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the website www.direct.gov.uk/neighbourhoodpolicing in each month since its inception; what the budget for the website is for 2008-09; how many staff are employed to maintain the website; and how many unique visitors there were to the website in each month since its inception.

Liam Byrne: It is not possible to extract the costs of this website from the others we manage.

Police: Labour Turnover

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers left each police force due to  (a) retirement,  (b) resignation,  (c) transfer to another force and  (d) other reasons in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Data for police officer leavers during 2007-08 are scheduled for publication at the end of July 2008. The available data for 2006-07 are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officer leavers( 1)  by police force area (FTE)( 2)  for 2006-07( 3, 4) 
			   Retirements  Resignations  Transfers  Other 
			 Avon and Somerset 77 35 27 1 
			 Bedfordshire 27 23 16 6 
			 Cambridgeshire 42 28 18 1 
			 Cheshire 64 24 13 4 
			 Cleveland 38 25 11 0 
			 Cumbria 29 17 2 0 
			 Derbyshire 84 41 8 6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 84 34 17 6 
			 Dorset 77 19 9 3 
			 Durham 38 16 9 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 31 8 10 0 
			 Essex 108 81 119 9 
			 Gloucestershire 46 20 6 3 
			 Greater Manchester 232 159 86 12 
			 Gwent 36 16 13 2 
			 Hampshire 120 49 35 2 
			 Hertfordshire 42 63 68 5 
			 Humberside 71 34 14 2 
			 Kent 134 49 40 3 
			 Lancashire 116 32 17 9 
			 Leicestershire 74 27 31 7 
			 Lincolnshire 63 16 14 4 
			 London, City of 30 11 24 2 
			 Merseyside 177 63 11 3 
			 Metropolitan Police 828 531 272 51 
			 Norfolk 61 24 12 2 
			 Northamptonshire 46 19 35 4 
			 Northumbria 89 29 11 9 
			 North Wales 46 22 12 5 
			 North Yorkshire 56 32 16 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 89 28 23 2 
			 South Wales 144 39 4 1 
			 South Yorkshire 112 38 38 3 
			 Staffordshire 58 22 24 11 
			 Suffolk 33 12 11 2 
			 Surrey 61 46 71 11 
			 Sussex 88 76 44 8 
			 Thames Valley 109 86 87 8 
			 Warwickshire 49 18 12 0 
			 West Mercia 75 38 26 4 
			 West Midlands 252 105 86 32 
			 West Yorkshire 230 65 38 9 
			 Wiltshire 33 16 4 1 
			 (1). Includes transfers to other England and Wales forces but does not include officers leaving after a period of secondment. The other category includes those leaving the service due to dismissal or death.  (2). Full Time Equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.  (3) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. Data are not available prior to 2002-03.  (4). Data have not previously been previously published in this format therefore totals may not match totals found in the published data.

Police: Manpower

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were per notifiable offence in England in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Total offences per officer for 1997 
			  Police force area  Number 
			 Avon and Somerset 48 
			 Bedfordshire 44 
			 Cambridgeshire 47 
			 Cheshire 30 
			 Cleveland 43 
			 Cumbria 31 
			 Derbyshire 42 
			 Devon and Cornwall 32 
			 Dorset 34 
			 Durham 32 
			 Essex 31 
			 Gloucestershire 43 
			 Greater Manchester 44 
			 Hampshire 36 
			 Hertfordshire 29 
			 Humberside 60 
			 Kent 38 
			 Lancashire 37 
			 Leicestershire 41 
			 Lincolnshire 36 
			 London, City of 6 
			 Merseyside 30 
			 Metropolitan Police 30 
			 Norfolk 37 
			 Northamptonshire 46 
			 Northumbria 37 
			 North Yorkshire 37 
			 Nottinghamshire 55 
			 South Yorkshire 41 
			 Staffordshire 39 
			 Suffolk 30 
			 Surrey 24 
			 Sussex 37 
			 Thames valley 42 
			 Warwickshire 39 
			 West Mercia 38 
			 West Midlands 39 
			 West Yorkshire 47 
			 Wiltshire 29 
			 England 37 
			  Note: Recorded crime statistics were collected on a calendar year basis up to 1997 and thereafter on a financial year basis. Therefore, these figures are not comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Total offences per officer for 1998-99 to 2001-02 
			  Police force area  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Avon and Somerset 50 50 50 57 
			 Bedfordshire 47 52 48 49 
			 Cambridgeshire 53 56 50 51 
			 Cheshire 31 32 32 34 
			 Cleveland 47 46 46 49 
			 Cumbria 36 35 31 34 
			 Derbyshire 48 48 45 49 
			 Devon and Cornwall 38 39 35 33 
			 Dorset 41 40 37 40 
			 Durham 32 31 28 32 
			 Essex 33 37 37 38 
			 Gloucestershire 44 46 43 43 
			 Greater Manchester 53 55 53 53 
			 Hampshire 37 40 39 39 
			 Hertfordshire 29 30 33 37 
			 Humberside 66 63 58 57 
			 Kent 40 39 39 36 
			 Lancashire 36 34 36 42 
			 Leicestershire 47 47 43 42 
			 Lincolnshire 41 41 37 42 
			 London, City of 9 11 12 13 
			 Merseyside 33 36 35 37 
			 Metropolitan Police 36 41 40 40 
			 Norfolk 41 43 40 40 
			 Northamptonshire 58 55 49 50 
			 Northumbria 39 38 35 35 
			 North Yorkshire 41 42 40 42 
			 Nottinghamshire 61 62 61 68 
			 South Yorkshire 42 42 39 42 
			 Staffordshire 41 46 49 55 
			 Suffolk 34 38 39 42 
			 Surrey 26 26 31 31 
			 Sussex 46 48 48 47 
			 Thames Valley 47 51 51 52 
			 Warwickshire 42 43 40 44 
			 West Mercia 40 45 40 51 
			 West Midlands 43 51 49 48 
			 West Yorkshire 55 54 54 61 
			 Wiltshire 33 34 33 33 
			 England 41 44 42 44 
			  Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1989-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997 and earlier. 2. The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Total offences per officer for 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 55 48 48 46 48 
			 Bedfordshire 55 53 48 50 48 
			 Cambridgeshire 61 57 53 47 50 
			 Cheshire 40 42 41 44 41 
			 Cleveland 47 44 41 43 40 
			 Cumbria 33 32 35 35 31 
			 Derbyshire 52 48 41 40 40 
			 Devon and Cornwall 41 40 40 36 36 
			 Dorset 44 44 40 40 37 
			 Durham 31 29 27 31 32 
			 Essex 46 47 42 40 39 
			 Gloucestershire 45 45 41 41 40 
			 Greater Manchester 52 46 40 41 42 
			 Hampshire 42 48 46 47 48 
			 Hertfordshire 44 46 46 45 42 
			 Humberside 63 64 56 52 51 
			 Kent 37 38 38 41 40 
			 Lancashire 39 43 43 40 38 
			 Leicestershire 45 42 42 41 42 
			 Lincolnshire 51 49 48 47 45 
			 London, City of 12 11 10 10 9 
			 Merseyside 40 41 40 41 35 
			 Metropolitan Police 39 36 33 32 30 
			 Norfolk 48 46 43 42 40 
			 Northamptonshire 61 63 58 52 52 
			 Northumbria 42 39 35 33 33 
			 North Yorkshire 47 47 40 36 33 
			 Nottinghamshire 67 64 57 56 57 
			 South Yorkshire 48 43 43 50 49 
			 Staffordshire 49 48 44 46 46 
			 Suffolk 40 41 40 41 38 
			 Surrey 36 38 37 36 39 
			 Sussex 44 44 46 44 43 
			 Thames Valley 54 52 50 48 50 
			 Warwickshire 44 45 43 42 43 
			 West Mercia 47 45 40 36 34 
			 West Midlands 45 43 36 36 34 
			 West Yorkshire 64 62 47 46 44 
			 Wiltshire 38 35 33 35 37 
			 England 45 44 40 40 38 
			  Note: The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording standard in April 2002. These figures are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Police: Translation Services

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the costs of providing translation services in each police authority area of England and Wales were in each of the last two years.

Tony McNulty: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been  (a) proceeded against for and  (b) convicted of failing to disclose information in encrypted form under section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000;
	(2)  how many prosecutions and convictions there have been under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for withholding passwords and encryption keys to hard drives since that provision entered into force.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 April 2008
	These provisions came into force on 1 October 2007 and to date eight section 49 notices have been served, four of which were in terrorism related cases. In these four cases two people have been charged with the offence of failing to comply with a section 49 notice, and the appropriate investigating authorities are also considering what action to take in regard to the other two terrorist related cases. These cases have yet to come before the courts.
	In two of the remaining (non-terrorism related cases) the encryption keys have been disclosed.

Robbery

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many robberies there were in each police force area in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Robbery offences recorded by the police by police force area1997 to 2001-02 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  1997  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,562 1,831 2,381 2,765 4,889 
			 Bedfordshire 531 530 615 663 957 
			 British Transport Police n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cambridgeshire 350 437 548 539 679 
			 Cheshire 319 397 466 486 472 
			 Cleveland 507 908 839 932 1,264 
			 Cumbria 101 119 90 94 143 
			 Derbyshire 396 504 584 773 1,029 
			 Devon and Cornwall 389 462 487 452 474 
			 Dorset 206 205 241 309 334 
			 Durham 142 172 236 231 284 
			 Dyfed-Powys 34 42 28 23 26 
			 Essex 438 523 626 700 920 
			 Gloucestershire 369 273 291 363 498 
			 Greater Manchester 6,296 7,632 8,634 9,918 11,027 
			 Gwent 156 173 216 244 215 
			 Hampshire 554 588 732 794 872 
			 Hertfordshire 289 250 420 508 678 
			 Humberside 757 839 950 999 1,190 
			 Kent 709 712 827 1,000 1,003 
			 Lancashire 845 981 1,058 1,224 1,608 
			 Leicestershire 880 967 1,023 1,067 1,167 
			 Lincolnshire 107 149 178 191 251 
			 London, City of 34 29 49 53 46 
			 Merseyside 2,141 2,484 2,663 2,405 3,155 
			 Metropolitan Police 27,386 26,330 36,317 40,992 53,547 
			 Norfolk 189 220 297 330 401 
			 Northamptonshire 415 443 481 604 877 
			 Northumbria 1,260 1,347 1,389 1,381 1,390 
			 North Wales 112 127 146 163 194 
			 North Yorkshire 198 170 212 186 291 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,145 1,312 1,768 2,050 2,725 
			 South Wales 509 511 519 460 595 
			 South Yorkshire 946 979 1,122 1,438 1,952 
			 Staffordshire 498 509 697 796 963 
			 Suffolk 141 140 223 177 289 
			 Surrey 192 171 224 456 519 
			 Sussex 681 939 1,020 1,241 1,250 
			 Thames Valley 1,256 1,327 1,659 2,147 2,894 
			 Warwickshire 146 170 224 252 370 
			 West Mercia 287 351 359 423 646 
			 West Midlands 6,737 7,315 10,092 11,351 13,322 
			 West Yorkshire 2,698 3,072 3,088 3,781 5,674 
			 Wiltshire 164 195 258 193 279 
			 England and Wales 63,072 66,835 84,277 95,154 121,359 
			 n/a = not available  Note: Figures in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002 They are directly therefore not comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Robbery offences recorded by the police by police force area2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 3,504 2,908 2,237 2,036 1,987 
			 Bedfordshire 997 993 1,028 1,317 1,248 
			 British Transport Police 2,242 2,542 2,037 2,166 1,953 
			 Cambridgeshire 906 786 634 562 733 
			 Cheshire 631 647 533 654 688 
			 Cleveland 1,434 1,355 898 715 576 
			 Cumbria 130 124 109 87 68 
			 Derbyshire 1,048 1,019 802 772 870 
			 Devon and Cornwall 710 562 541 566 649 
			 Dorset 437 445 342 255 190 
			 Durham 287 267 178 281 233 
			 Dyfed-Powys 40 54 41 40 47 
			 Essex 1,328 1,476 1,426 1,424 1,531 
			 Gloucestershire 521 541 384 476 394 
			 Greater Manchester 10,745 9,246 7,544 7,719 8,213 
			 Gwent 329 274 351 316 282 
			 Hampshire 966 1,040 948 1,078 1,212 
			 Hertfordshire 862 972 875 933 985 
			 Humberside 1,807 1,896 1,262 1,185 1,200 
			 Kent 1,242 1,172 1,195 1,351 1,403 
			 Lancashire 1,409 1,285 1,092 1,021 1,014 
			 Leicestershire 1,453 1,476 1,329 1,244 1,214 
			 Lincolnshire 307 304 243 229 230 
			 London, City of 45 50 42 39 41 
			 Merseyside 2,994 2,347 2,173 2,502 2,290 
			 Metropolitan Police 42,493 40,639 39,033 45,311 45,771 
			 Norfolk 579 459 324 301 359 
			 Northamptonshire 1,015 1,220 875 1,069 1,037 
			 Northumbria 1,442 1,223 1,176 1,070 1,055 
			 North Wales 224 201 149 150 134 
			 North Yorkshire 356 395 328 240 278 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,799 2,556 2,011 2,112 2,434 
			 South Wales 784 751 543 631 891 
			 South Yorkshire 2,112 1,400 1,131 1,258 1,594 
			 Staffordshire 900 909 111 766 758 
			 Suffolk 249 290 260 271 271 
			 Surrey 605 619 462 446 446 
			 Sussex 1,319 1,425 1,228 1,098 1,007 
			 Thames Valley 2,406 2,286 1,968 1,926 2,320 
			 Warwickshire 354 456 353 429 486 
			 West Mercia 728 689 531 453 581 
			 West Midlands 10,249 10,371 9,165 8,867 9,186 
			 West Yorkshire 4,947 3,738 2,196 2,531 3,148 
			 Wiltshire 336 328 256 301 363 
			 England and Wales 110,271 103,736 91,010 98,198 101,370 
			  Notes: 1. Figures in this table are after the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. They are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 2. Includes British Transport Police from 2002-03.

Runaway Children

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports police forces received of children missing from home in each of the last three years, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) sex.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the number, age or gender of children who are reported missing from home are not collected centrally.
	The new national Missing Persons Bureau (MPB) was launched by the National Policing Improvement Agency on 1 April 2008 and will be seeking to develop national information to support local police operations. One of the priorities for the MPB is to carry out a strategic assessment on the missing person phenomenon and to produce a problem profile, thereby establishing a baseline on which to formulate, develop and measure future policy initiatives in close consultation with the missing persons Strategic Oversight Group.

Terrorism

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Appendix A of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' Nineteenth Report of Session 2006-07, how many of the individuals arrested and charged with terrorist offences were  (a) released on bail and  (b) had their charges subsequently dropped.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 March 2008
	 Of the 24 individuals arrested as a result of Operation Overt, as listed in Appendix A of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' Nineteenth Report of Session 2006-07, 17 were charged. Of these 17, four individuals have been granted conditional bail by the court while awaiting trial. An additional two, charged with having information about an act of terrorism, have had their cases dismissed at court. These statistics were compiled from figures provided by the Metropolitan Police Service.

Terrorism

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis was for the figures quoted in the National Security Strategy, and her interview in the  News of the World newspaper of 13 April 2008, on the number of individuals, networks and active plots being monitored by anti-terrorism agencies in the UK; and to what period of time these figures were relevant.

Jacqui Smith: The Director General of the Security Service spoke publicly in November 2007 about the scale of the terrorist threat facing the United Kingdom, as did his predecessor 12 months earlier. Based on available intelligence and their judgment, they described it in terms of numbers of plots, groups or networks and numbers of individuals. Those were the figures to which I referred in the interview and are included in paragraph 3.4 of the National Security Strategy.

Terrorism: Detainees

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained on suspicion of terrorist or related offences but were released by the police or security services because they were not able to compile enough evidence to charge them within the 28 day period allowed for detention without charge in each police authority in the last two years.

Tony McNulty: The police do not centrally hold information on the release of terrorist suspects who they do not wish to detain beyond the pre-charge detention period set out in legislation or the detailed circumstances of each case where a suspect is not charged.

Theft: Motor Vehicles

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the five most common makes and models of vehicles stolen in each police authority area were in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available from the recorded crime statistics collected centrally.
	The Car Theft Index shows the makes and models of car most at risk of being stolen in England, Scotland and Wales but does not highlight any regional trends. A copy of the latest edition is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/car-theft-index/

Tourists: Fingerprints

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has  (a) issued and  (b) published on the fingerprinting of UK citizens arriving at British airports from overseas; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I am advised that no guidance has been issued or published with regard to a requirement to fingerprint UK Citizens arriving at British airports from overseas.

UK Border Agency: Logos

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the design and introduction of a logo for the UK Border Agency, broken down by category of expenditure.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 21 April 2008
	The development of the new UK Border Agency logo incurred a cost of 12,000 in design fees. A further 17,000 was spent on producing a set of templates and guidelines to cover all applications of the logo. A further 1,200 was spent on printing a summary guidelines booklet to distribute to senior managers within the UK Border Agency.

UK Border Agency: Uniforms

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the design and introduction of uniforms for the UK Border Agency to date; how much the total projected spend is on the design and introduction of new uniforms for the UK Border Agency; and if she will provide a cost breakdown by category of expenditure.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 21 April 2008
	To date there has been no expenditure on the design and introduction of new uniforms for the UK Border Agency. No costs have yet been forecast. A cost breakdown by category is therefore not available.

Violence: Media

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library the full Home Office research report entitled The effects of video violence on young offenders (1998).

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 29 February 2008
	A summary of the findings from the report regarding Video Violence and Young Offenders (1998) were published as a Research Findings by RDS in 1998. The full report has not been published by the Department and hence has not been subject to RDS editorial and quality assurance checks that apply to any of our published research.
	We have forwarded a copy of the full report to the House of Commons Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Nationality: Prisoners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what records he keeps of consular visits to prisoners abroad.

Meg Munn: Records of consular visits to prisoners abroad are entered onto the Foreign and Commonwealth Office central consular assistance database: Compass. Consular staff overseas aim to write up a detailed description of a visit within 48 hours of it having taken place.

Burma: Constitutions

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessments he has made of the likelihood that the planned referendum on the Burmese draft constitution will be free and fair; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Burmese regime's referendum on their new constitution, set for 10 May 2008, is being conducted in an atmosphere of harassment and intimidation. Criticism of the process and the draft constitution is punishable by long prison sentences. The regime has excluded opposition figures and representatives of ethnic groups in Burma from participating in the process and denies the No campaign a platform to air its arguments. The referendum seeks to perpetuate the role of the military in the government of the country. The constitution as drafted specifically targets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, disqualifying her from office for having a foreign spouse. Members of religious orders will also be disenfranchised.
	We endorse the view of UN Special Rapporteur on human rights, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who commented on 14 March:
	No referendum or elections can be fair, no transition to democracy can be effective, without the release of political prisoners, the authorisation for all political parties to operate, and the protection of the basic civil and political freedoms, all non-existent in Myanmar.

Chevening Scholarships Programme

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with  (a) the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills,  (b) the Department for International Development,  (c) non-governmental UK organisations and  (d) other governments before the announcement of 23rd March 2008 on the funding of the Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships programmes.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Reading, East (Mr. Wilson) on 23 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2122W.

Chevening Scholarships Programme

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the recent decision to reduce funding for the Chevening Scholarship programme will affect people who have applied to the scheme for a place during 2008-09.

Jim Murphy: The decision was made before scholarships for 2008-09 were offered. So while there is increased competition for scholarships for 2008-09, those who have been offered scholarships will not be affected.

China: Olympic Games

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chinese authorities on the conditions placed on British athletes participating in the Beijing Olympics.

Meg Munn: holding answer 28 April 2008
	 : Athletes' conditions, at the Beijing Olympic Games, are a matter for the British Olympic Association (BOA), an independent organisation, and are firmly covered by the International Olympic Committee charter. The BOA has a responsibility to safeguard the interests of all athletes and provide an environment where preparations can be undertaken to optimise performance with the minimum of distraction.

China: Oppression

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the arrest of human rights lawyer Ms Ni Yulan in China; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We have not received any reports of the arrest of Ms Ni Yulan.
	We have previously raised individual cases of human rights lawyers with the Chinese authorities and continue to urge them to protect the legitimate rights of lawyers in China. The role of defence lawyers was a key theme at both the 14th and 15th round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue. At the most recent round of the dialogue, we welcomed the new revisions to the Lawyers' Law, coming into force on 1 June, which give increased rights to defence lawyers.

Commonwealth: Scholarships

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the change in the number of Commonwealth scholarships as a result of the reduction in funding announced on 23rd March 2008.

Jim Murphy: The number of new Commonwealth scholars each year depends on the number staying on from previous years for a second or third year of study. For example, in 2006 there were 56 new scholars funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and in 2007, 46. For 2008, 68 candidates have been selected in anticipation that not all will be able to take up their places.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 13 March 2008, the changes we are making to FCO scholarship programmes mean that we will end the FCO contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. From 2009 there will be no new scholars funded by the FCO, but we will continue to pay for those on two or three-year awards.

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on departmental data protection, if he will include information assurance data on data loss incidents in previous years in his Department's next annual report.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1119 and the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data.
	The interim report of 17 December 2007 committed to put in place a programme to examine and improve data handling procedures. An update on this commitment will be included in the final report, expected in spring 2008, and this report will detail the information to be included by Departments on data loss in their annual reports.

Departmental Internet

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of introducing his Department's new website was; for what reasons his Department's website was changed; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The recent upgrade of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) corporate website is part of a wider project to deliver a new web platform and improved web presence for the FCO over five years.
	The work will provide a single technical platform for all the FCO websites (including the main FCO website, Arabic and Urdu versions of the FCO website, UKvisas website, the FCO Freedom of Information website, and 229 embassy, high commission and special mission sites in multiple languages) as well as new designs, content, functionality and a new hub and spoke model for delivering business support.
	The project will complete in September 2008, by which time all of the FCO posts websites will have joined the new platform and will operate under the central domain, fco.gov.uk.
	The initial cost of 9.7 million for the web platform was set out in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Meg Munn) on 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 398W. The project is on target to cost 19.2 million over five years. This includes running costs, for example hosting and support, and some staff salaries. The cost of the project to date is 9.2 million which includes the design and implementation of the FCO and UKvisas websites, and the design of the embassy and high commission websites. It also includes procurement costs, client side advice, setting up regional hubs to provide business support, and training. Details of the project and costs were published in Whitehall and Westminster World on 4 April:
	http://www.civilservicenetwork.com/index.php?id=41no_cache=1tx_ttnews[tt_news]=34250tx_ttnews[backPid]=29
	The web is vital for the delivery of the FCO's Departmental strategic objectives. More people, in the UK and overseas, have contact with the FCO through the web than through any other channel. The FCO is committed to using the web to deliver its Policy Goals as well as key services such as travel advice and visa information.
	The project has followed the Office of Government Commerce Gateway Review process and is delivering on time and to budget.

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many public consultations his Department has held in the last three years; and how many respondents there were to each.

Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) welcomes views on policy issues from the public and stakeholders, for example during the recent review of its strategic priorities. FCO departments and posts hold their own budgets for public consultations and therefore the information requested is not held centrally. A more detailed answer would require a survey of all of our Embassies, High Commissions and subordinate posts, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Developing Countries: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to promote human rights in developing countries

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	A reply to my hon. Friend's question will be issued shortly.
	 Substantive answer from Gillian Merron to Jim Cunningham:
	The UK Government continues regular bi-lateral dialogue with governments to raise human rights issues and as part of country planning. This includes working with governments in developing countries to assess human rights as a basis for development programmes and to develop human rights commitments with agreed indicators of progress.
	Active participation in international fora to promote human rights is a priority for the UK Government. This includes support to the UN Secretary-General's initiative to strengthen human rights institutions at country level; and to the UN's new Universal Periodic Review process which will review the human rights record of all UN states over a four year period.
	The UK Government support a range of programmes at country level which support civil, economic, political, social and cultural rights. This includes support to women and excluded groups to participate in elections, livelihoods work focusing on the right to a decent standard of living and work on the law to secure disabled people's rights.

Embassies: Republic of Ireland

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date consultation with the Unite trade union on the possible need to reduce the level of locally-engaged staffing in the UK Embassy to the Republic of Ireland commenced; what discussions on  (a) the provision of redeployment,  (b) retraining and  (c) the avoidance of compulsory redundancy ensued; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: Consultation with the Unite trade union on the decision of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) management in London to restructure the UKTI section at our Embassy in Dublin began on 22 January.
	Our Embassy and Unite, the union acting on behalf of the Embassy's Local Staff Association, reached a mutually satisfactory agreement on the consequences for staff of the restructuring of the UKTI section on 21 February.

Gaza: Borders

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the opening of all border crossings into Gaza.

Kim Howells: We continue to make clear our desire to see the Gaza border crossings opened for both humanitarian and commercial activity. We are working with the UN to secure Israeli agreement to support efforts to facilitate humanitarian access. In addition, on a regular basis my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary engages with the Israeli Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs on issues of the border crossings into Gaza.

International Seabed Authority

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK's role is in the International Seabed Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The UK has maintained a strong interest in the role of the International Seabed Authority since its inception. The UK is currently a member of the Council and is represented on both the Finance Committee and the Legal and Technical Commission (although appointees to these bodies are in a personal capacity). The UK delegation to the authority consists of officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who liaise closely with experts from the National Oceanography Centre on matters of a technical and scientific nature.
	We will continue to take an active interest in the work of the authority as the development of mining activities on the seabed becomes increasingly viable from a technical and economic standpoint, and will seek to ensure that potential future UK commercial interests are protected whilst at the same time ensuring that environmental concerns are adequately addressed.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Russian Federation counterpart on the UK's recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 28 April 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed Kosovo with his Russian counterpart since the UK's recognition of its independence on 18 February 2008. However, UK officials at all levels have continued to discuss the issue with Russian officials. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Permanent Under-Secretary, Sir Peter Ricketts, discussed Kosovo with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vladimir Titov, and the First Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrei Denisov, on 24 April during his visit to Moscow.

Malaysia: Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions officials from his Department or members of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals met Malaysian officials to consult them before the Committee decided that veterans could accept but not wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.

Meg Munn: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office met with officials from the Malaysian high commission on several occasions to discuss this issue. The Malaysian authorities were kept fully informed about discussions on the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal, including the Government's decision to allow the medal to be accepted but not worn.

Malaysia: Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions officials from his Department or members of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, contacted the Malaysian High Commission or the Committee on the Malaysian authorities to consult them before the Committee decided that veterans could accept but not wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.

Meg Munn: I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer to his previous question (PQ 201115).

Malaysia: Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the correspondence between the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, Ministerial officials and the Malaysian authorities prior to the decision by the Committee that British veterans may accept but not wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.

Meg Munn: There was no correspondence between the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals and the Malaysian authorities.

Malaysia: Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, column 526W, on Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, if he will direct the Committee to reverse its decision on the acceptance and wearing of Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medals by British veterans.

Meg Munn: The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals has considered the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal thoroughly. We respect its conclusions and do not plan to seek any re-consideration.

Morocco

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, column 533W, on Morocco, what account he takes of the position taken by the Polisario; if he will hold discussions with the Polisario; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government take regular note of the positions of both parties to the ongoing dispute over the status of Western Sahara, as well as those of the UN Secretary-General, his Personal Envoy on Western Sahara, Peter van Walsum, and the wider international community.
	The UK continues to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and Peter van Walsum to achieve a negotiated solution that will provide for the self determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK shares the view of the UN Secretary-General that both parties to the dispute must try to find a way out of the current political impasse though realism and a spirit of compromise.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I do not currently have plans to hold discussions with representatives of the Polisario. However, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials maintain regular contact with the representatives of the parties to the dispute, including the Polisario.

President of the European Council: Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2008,  Official Report, column 710W, on President of the European Council: pay, what the timescale is for discussions on the salary and job-related benefits of the President of the European Council.

Jim Murphy: Discussions on the identity of the new full-time President, on his/her terms and conditions, and on the new rules of procedure of the European Council will take place at the appropriate time before he/she takes up the post. All of these decisions will, of course, depend on ratification of the treaty by all 27 member states.
	The treaty will only enter into force once every country has ratified, and not before January 2009.

Promoting Prosperity: Progressive Governance Summit

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of the Promoting Prosperity: Progressive Governance Summit.

Meg Munn: Final figures are not yet available. A working budget was set at 250,000 and we expect the final figure to be within this target.
	A clear distinction was maintained between costs falling to the summit and those which fell to the Policy Network, who organised the Progressive Governance conference on the preceding day.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports of increased Sudanese government military presence in the Abyei region; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We are aware of reports of a military build up around Abyei. We plan to raise the resolution of Abyei's status, and the installation of joint integrated units of the Sudanese armed forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army for the area's protection, during forthcoming high-level contacts.

Sudan: Chad

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of Chadian involvement in Darfur; and what representations he has made to President Deby on this issue.

Meg Munn: We are aware of reports that both Sudan and Chad continue to support each other's rebel groups. The Government, together with the UN, the EU and the African Union, have urged both sides to cease all support for armed groups in the region, commit to a peace process and abide by previous ceasefire agreements.
	The Dakar Accord, signed in Senegal on 13 March 2008, commits Chad and Sudan to reconciling their differences, normalising relations and contributing to stability in the region. We have made clear to both parties that we expect them to abide by the terms of this agreement.
	We regularly raise the issue of Darfur in our bilateral contacts. Staff from our high commission in Yaound, accredited to Chad, raised Darfur with the Chadian Deputy Foreign Minister on 9 April 2008.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Sudan on its obligations under the Abyei Protocol.

Meg Munn: My right. hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development, and my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown have all pushed Sudanese Government Ministers to resolve the dispute over Abyei as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the last six months. Our embassy in Khartoum has raised Abyei regularly in its contacts with the Government of Sudan.
	We plan to raise Abyei during forthcoming high-level meetings.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the terms of appointment are of Sir Derek Plumbly as the head of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission in Khartoum in bringing progress to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Meg Munn: Sir Derek Plumbly's appointment is unique: having completed his career as a UK diplomat he has been placed on full-time secondment from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) for two years. He was appointed by Sudanese Presidential Decree 39 of 11 February 2008 as chair of the AEC charged with delivering its mandate as defined in Sudanese Presidential Decree 36 of 2005, including monitoring and assessing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement implementation and producing mid-term evaluation reports. He took up his post in Khartoum on 26 March 2008.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what countries have made commitments to the UNAMID force for Darfur.

Meg Munn: Countries that have offered troops and that are scheduled to deploy with the force of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur include Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Nepal and the Netherlands.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UNAMID the joint AU/UN force for Darfur has a Chapter 7 mandate from the UN; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1769 mandates the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in respect of the tasks set out for UNAMID in operative paragraph 15 of that resolution.
	The UK was instrumental in securing unanimous adoption of UNSCR 1769 on 31 July 2007.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what countries have made definite commitments of helicopters to UNAMID in Darfur.

Meg Munn: Ethiopia is contributing four light tactical helicopters to the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur. No other country has made a definite commitment to provide helicopters and we continue to explore with the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations all possible options for the provision of helicopters.

Uganda: Armed Conflict

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports of divisions within the Lord's Resistance Army over the content of the draft peace agreement in Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government are aware of unverified reports of divisions within the Lord's Resistance Army although reports of the death of International Criminal Court indictee Okot Odhiambo appear to have been erroneous. The Government continue to fully support the Juba Peace Process and hope that the Final Peace Agreement will be signed soon.

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the process is for nominating members of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; and for what reason there is no British nominee for forthcoming elections to the Committee.

Meg Munn: States parties are invited to nominate one candidate from among their own nationals to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). States parties to the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women elect 23 members to the Committee. The convention states that CEDAW nominations should be experts of high moral standing and competence in the field covered by the convention.
	The UK strongly supports CEDAW and believes that an effective treaty monitoring body is one of the best mechanisms to promote and protect the human rights of women around the world. But we need to consider carefully the balance of UK representation across all the UN bodies and this sometimes means making difficult decisions about which bodies to seek election for.
	This year we are seeking re-election to the Human Rights Council and the International Court of Justice. These are respectively the UN's principal bodies for the promotion and protection of all human rights, including gender equality and for the maintenance of the international rule of law.

Zimbabwe: Elections

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had with other governments on the non-publication of the results of the recent presidential election in Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown have held regular substantive and frank discussions with African and other leaders about the non-publication of the recent presidential election results and the unacceptable level of political violence in Zimbabwe. In addition our embassies and high commissions are engaging in dialogue with key interlocutors in the region and beyond. We have and will continue to seek out opportunities to raise the issue of the urgent situation in Zimbabwe through and in the margins of multilateral fora including the EU and the UN.

Zimbabwe: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to establish the extent of human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: Government officials are carefully monitoring the current situation in Zimbabwe, paying close attention to the extent of human rights violations. Our facts are cross checked and ascertained through direct contact with victims and non-governmental organisations who corroborate statements and facts. As a consequence we can confirm there have been at least 456 victims of post election violence reported to date and we are also aware of hundreds of displaced civilians. We have repeatedly raised our condemnation of these abuses with the Government of Zimbabwe and states in the region.

TREASURY

Adjudicator's Office

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases the Adjudicators Office dealt with in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The number of complaints accepted by the Adjudicator's Office for investigation, and the number finalised each year are published in the adjudicator's annual report. Reports for each of the last five years are available on the adjudicator's website:
	www.adjudicatorsoffice.gov.uk

Adjudicator's Office: Complaints

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received about the Adjudicators Office in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Figures for the number of complaints made against the Adjudicator's Office are not available.
	Where a complaint is made against the handling of a complaint by the Adjudicator's Office, the adjudicator will attempt to resolve the complaint directly with the complainant. Where agreement cannot be reached, the complainant may refer the matter to the parliamentary and health services ombudsman.

Adjudicator's Office: Complaints

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long on average the Adjudicators Office took to  (a) respond to a complaint and  (b) successfully deal with a complaint in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: During 2007-08 the adjudicator took on average 8.98 working days to make their initial response to a complainant. The average time taken to finalise an investigation during the same period was 23.44 weeks.

Adjudicator's Office: Finance

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual budget of the Adjudicators Office is; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: In 2006-07 the cost of the Adjudicator's Office was 2.48 million. This figure was given in written evidence to the Treasury Committee on 15 January 2008 by Mr. Simon Oakes, the head of the Adjudicator's Office. The figure includes an apportionment for accommodation and other services provided directly by HMRC, and is therefore higher than the 1.99 million quoted in the annual report for 2006-07.

Adjudicator's Office: Manpower

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time workers are employed by the Adjudicators Office; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Adjudicator's Office currently has 47 members of staff. The breakdown of staff years is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Department  Full-time  Part-time 
			 HM Revenue and Customs 42 2 
			 Valuation Office Agency 1 0 
			 Insolvency Service 1 0 
			 Office of the Public Guardian 1 0

Bird and Bird

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contracts were awarded by his Department to Bird and Bird solicitors in each year since 2005; and what the  (a) value and  (b) duration of each such contract was.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury have awarded no contracts to Bird and Bird since 2005.

Car Allowances

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs plans to review the authorised mileage allowances for tax purposes to take account of rising fuel costs.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 535W. I also refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 306W. The Chancellor announced in Budget 2008 that the Government would maintain the tax-free mileage allowance (AMAPs) rates and thresholds at current levels.

Crown Estate: Weber Shandwick Public Affairs

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments the Crown Estate made to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payments were made in each case.

Angela Eagle: The Crown Estate employed Weber Shandwick for corporate PR advice as well as general communications support on a number of property development projects for their central London urban portfolio. The primary focus of Weber Shandwick's work here was community consultation.
	The figures are given in the table:
	
		
			   000 
			 2002-03 129 
			 2003-04 170 
			 2004-05 178 
			 2005-06 255 
			 2006-07 126

Departmental Energy

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to reduce its energy consumption in the last 12 months; and what his Department's expenditure on energy was in  (a) the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available and  (b) the immediately preceding 12 months.

Angela Eagle: HMT has been working with Exchequer Partnership, HMT's PFI partner, to implement recommendations from the Carbon Trust and is currently developing further initiatives with both parties.
	The energy consumption figures for the Department are:
	
		
			
			 2006-07 427,472 
			 2005-06 371,854

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible; and on what assumptions for  (a) discount and  (b) longevity the estimate is based;
	(2)  what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1990-91;
	(3)  what the  (a) rate and  (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility in each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what the effect on his Department's expenditure would be of increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which his Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury is not responsible for any public sector pension schemes.

Equitable Life

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent producing the report of the Equitable Life inquiry.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to HM Treasury's Resource Accounts 2003-04 for the total cost of Lord Penrose's inquiry into Equitable Life.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) the Assets Recovery Agency and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs recovered from those involved in fuel laundering in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: The nature of civil recovery proceedings is such that it is not possible to quantify the exact value of assets recovered in relation to specific forms of criminality, although the Assets Recovery Agency has recovered assets from individuals whose criminality is believed to include fuel smuggling.
	In the last three years in Northern Ireland, HMRC has made two cash seizures under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 from persons involved in oil laundering:
	
		
			   
			 2005 (1)8,510.00 
			 2007 (2)3,599.54 
			 (1) Proceeds of fuel laundering. (2) Proceeds of fuel laundering, with prosecution for laundering plant pending.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many prosecutions for offences relating to fuel laundering there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many people have been convicted of and received prison sentences for offences relating to fuel laundering in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: In Northern Ireland, in each of the last three years, there have been two prosecutions commenced for offences relating to oils laundering.
	Within the same period, there have been three persons who have been convicted of offences relating to oils laundering of which:
	Two, convicted in August 2006 and January 2008, have received suspended sentences
	One, convicted in January 2008, is awaiting sentencing.
	Criminal investigation and prosecution for hydrocarbon oils offences form only one part of HMRC's overall approach to tackling oils fraud, together with the investigation/prosecution of wider oils excise offences, combined with a strong regulatory control system and the civil penalties regime.

Government Departments: Carbon Emissions

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what price his Department requires Government Departments to use for one tonne of carbon dioxide when calculating their budgets.

Angela Eagle: The shadow price of carbon (SPC) is used to value the expected increase or decrease in emissions of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from a proposed policy. The SPC reflects the damage costs of climate change caused by each additional tonne of greenhouse gas emittedconverted into carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) for ease of comparison. Supplementary guidance to the Green Book has been published, and the SPC should be used in all policy and project appraisals across government with significant effects on carbon emissions.
	The value of the SPC is dependent upon the year the carbon is abated/emitted and rises over time to account for observed (and assumed) inflation, and at 2 per cent. a year to account for rising damage costs from higher greenhouse gas concentrations. The SPC in 2008 is 26.50 per tonne of CO2e.

Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the Statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17th January 2008,  Official Report, column 327.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury provides no such services.

Income Tax: Tax Evasion

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) cases of and  (b) prosecutions for income tax evasion there have been since 2001.

Jane Kennedy: Since the creation of the RCPO and HMRC in 2005, 863 cases of direct tax and VAT evasion have been successfully prosecuted and a further 1361 settled under Civil Investigation of Fraud proceedings. Separate figures for income tax evasion are not available. Cases of less serious income tax evasion are resolved through inquiries, but HMRC does not keep records of this.
	Prosecutions for income tax evasion prior to April 2005 were carried out by the former Inland Revenue. In total, there were 76 successful direct tax prosecutions between 2001 and 2005.
	Details of these are published in the IR annual reports.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be worse off in Beverley and Holderness constituency following the abolition of the 10 pence tax rate ; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to provide reliable estimates of the impact of tax reforms at constituency level.
	The removal of the 10p rate is part of a package of reforms announced in Budget 2007 and should not be looked at in isolation. As a result of these reforms four-in-five households in the United Kingdom are better or no worse off than if they had not taken place.
	Budget 2008 announced additional measures supporting low income households including increased child tax credit, child benefit and housing benefits that will lift up to a further 250,000 children out of poverty, and one-off payments of 100 to households with someone aged 80 or over and 50 to households with someone aged 60 or over, to be paid alongside the winter fuel payment in 2008-09.

Loans

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects on financial intermediaries of financial lenders withdrawing products and lending directly to end customers;
	(2)  what assessment  (a) his Department and  (b) the Financial Services Authority has made of the effects on the economy of financial lenders withdrawing products from the marketplace.

Angela Eagle: Budget 2008 presented the Government's assessment of the ongoing disruption in global financial markets, including the effect on housing finance markets, and is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/bud_bud08_index.cfm.
	The 2008 Financial Risk Outlook published by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) presents the FSA's consideration of the effects on the economy of a reduced availability of credit, and is available at:
	http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Library/corporate/Outlook/fro_2008.shtml.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 10 March 2008, transferred from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, on value added tax on school uniforms, PO reference: 7/15810/2008.

Jane Kennedy: I replied to the hon. Member on 26 April.

Northern Rock

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made of the size of Northern Rock's mortgage book at the end of  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009.

Angela Eagle: During the period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock will be managed on an arms' length, commercial basis. It is a matter for the company's management to release specific business updates.
	On 31 March 2008, Northern Rock published a business plan that meets the Government's objectives, setting out its strategic priority to reduce the size of its balance sheet by over 50 per cent. to 49 billion by 2011.

Northern Rock: Nationalisation

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received since nationalisation on the operations of Northern Rock bank in  (a) Denmark,  (b) the Republic of Ireland and  (c) Guernsey.

Angela Eagle: There were a number of representations about the operations in question, including Northern Rock's announcement of 18 March 2008 of their intention to close their Danish branch and maintain their branch in the Republic of Ireland and subsidiary in Guernsey.

Public Expenditure

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to provide greater flexibility for Government Departments, with reference to the use of capital expenditure and operational expenditure spending budgets.

Yvette Cooper: The Government set separate capital and resource budgets for Departments at spending reviews. Separate resource and capital budgets support the Government's fiscal rules and ensure sustained investment in priorities, including infrastructure, schools and hospitals. The Government have introduced firm three-year spending plans and Departments have flexibility to focus resources within budget limits, subject to the rules set out in Managing Public Money and the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance 2008-09 (please see the links to these documents as follows). The Government have also introduced End Year Flexibility, which enables flexibility across financial years.
	 Consolidated Budgeting Guidance 2008-09:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_spending_reporting/budgeting_classification/psr_bc_consolidated_budgeting.cfm.
	 Managing Public Money:
	http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/documents/public_spending_reporting/governance_risk/psr_managingpublicmoney_index.cfm

Tobacco: Excise Duties

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for a levy on cigarette manufacturers to pay for the removal of discarded cigarette butts.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review. The Government currently have no plans for such a levy.
	DEFRA has recently funded four smoking litter campaigns, organised by Environmental Campaigns (ENCAMS), the organisation which runs the Keep Britain Tidy campaign. The Government will continue to encourage local authorities to use their powers in this regard to take action, where appropriate, against those discarding smoking related litter.

JUSTICE

Offenders: Cost of Punishment

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will give consideration to charging offenders for the cost of their punishment.

David Hanson: The 1952 Prison Act requires all expenses incurred in the maintenance of prisons and prisoners to be met from public funds.
	The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 enables the confiscation of criminally acquired assets. Courts frequently impose compensation orders against defendants under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
	In this way prisoners who have funds can be made to contribute directly towards the costs of the criminal justice process, including those costs incurred in their imprisonment.
	We are currently looking at how the work and behaviour of prisoners can be better linked to the regime they are under in prison through a prisoner compact. I will be publishing proposals on this shortly.

Reoffending Rates

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking through the youth justice system to reduce reoffending rates.

David Hanson: Between 2000 and 2005 youth re-offending has reduced by 2.5 per cent. We are building on this by developing a cross-government youth crime action plan which will set out work to reduce offending and reoffending by young people. We also continue to work with partners to improve practice and performance. This includes ensuring that the right performance frameworks and indicators are in place and putting in place a delivery plan to reduce youth reoffending.

Postal Voting

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the integrity of the postal voting system.

Bridget Prentice: The Government take the integrity of the electoral process very seriously. Postal voting has proved popular and has helped to boost turnout at elections. However, we must balance accessibility with security, and we have put in place a range of measures to safeguard the security of postal voting. We are not complacent on this issue and will consider what further action may be taken to ensure postal voting is secure.

ClearSprings

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with ClearSprings on property in Basildon district.

David Hanson: ClearSprings are not currently seeking property in Basildon but will consult if further properties are identified as being required.

RAF Coltishall

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the development of plans for a prison in the former RAF Coltishall.

David Hanson: A detailed planning application was submitted to North Norfolk district council and Broadland council on 18 April 2008.
	The proposal is to provide a new 500 place Category C prison for males on the former RAF Coltishall site by converting some of the existing accommodation and providing some new buildings.
	The prison will be in the public sector and run by HM Prison Service. Subject to planning permission, the first offenders are planned to be received in early 2009 and the prison will be fully operational later in the year.

Governance of Britain

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for electronic consultation on the proposals in the Governance of Britain Green Paper.

Michael Wills: We have set up the Governance of Britain website to provide information and updates on proposals in the Green Paper (http://governance. justice.gov.uk). As well as providing regular updates on progress, the site can give people the opportunity to contribute to discussion and debate in online forums and through e-mail.

Young Offenders

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the time taken to bring young offenders' cases to court; and what targets he has set for this process.

Maria Eagle: The Government have a pledge to halve the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders from its 1996 level of 142 days. The 71-day target was first met in 2002, and the most recent monthly average for January 2008 is 62 days.
	The average time between offence and first court hearing for all youth defendants whose cases were disposed of in 2007 is estimated at 53 days.
	The Criminal Justice: Simple, Speedy, Summary (CJSSS) initiative is presently being rolled-out to further improve the speed and effectiveness of youth courts.

Young Offenders

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the operation of youth referral orders.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	July 2007 data on reconvictions show that the referral order has the lowest reconviction rate, 44 per cent., of all juvenile court imposed sentences. This is against the overall reconviction rate for juvenile community sentences of 70 per cent.
	The Youth Justice Board is responsible for the monitoring of the provision and operation of youth justice services. It issued a consultation document on referral orders at the end of last year and is now in the process of drawing up an action plan to address issues raised in the responses.

Young Offenders

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people under the age of 21 years were serving sentences for public protection offences at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of young offenders in prison establishments in England and Wales serving indeterminate and extended sentences for public protection as at end February 2008:
	
		
			   Under 18s  Young adults( 1) 
			 Extended sentence for public protection (EPP) 110 330 
			 Indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) 50 520 
			 (1) Young adults are those aged 18-20 and those 21 year olds who were aged 20 or under at conviction who have not been reclassified as part of the adult population. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing so numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress is being made in conjunction with the Home Department in securing agreements with other countries to transfer foreign national prisoners to their countries of origin.

David Hanson: There are 98 Prisoner Transfer Agreements in place. I continue to look for opportunities to develop agreements with countries for the return of their nationals. This would enable them to serve their sentences closer to their families in the country to which they will ultimately be deported.
	I recently visited Nigeria to progress a prisoner transfer agreement with them.

Prison Building

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent progress has been made on the prisons building programme.

David Hanson: The Government have announced a programme to provide an additional 20,000 prison places and increase overall capacity to just over 96,000 by 2014. The programme has already provided 2,475 places, and will provide a further 1,708 places this year.

Prisons: Illegal Commodities

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce the supply of illegal drugs and mobile telephones in prisons.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to tackle the availability of illegal drugs in prisons.

David Hanson: Prisons deploy a comprehensive framework of drug supply reduction measures and have achieved considerable success. Drug use as measured by random mandatory drug tests has dropped by 64 per cent. since 1996-97.
	On 11 March 2008 I announced that David Blakey, former inspector of constabulary, has been commissioned to conduct a review of the effectiveness of the measures to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs into prisons. His report will also look into mobile phone use in prisons and their interrelation with drug supply.
	The Prison Service is developing an action plan to tackle the problem of mobile phones in prisons. We are working closely with partner agencies to develop and trial new technologies and procedures.

Legal Aid

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made on reform of legal aid.

Bridget Prentice: Our reform programme, set out in Legal Aid Reform: the Way Ahead (Cm 6993) in November 2006, designed to deliver a sustainable system of legal aid, is on track. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has successfully delivered the first phase of reform, and has introduced new fixed and graduated fees covering most areas of civil, family and criminal legal aid. Together with the Legal Services Commission, we are considering arrangements for the second phase of reform. The next phase of reform for civil legal aid is set out in the civil route map published on 10 April 2008. The Legal Services Commission is also considering responses to its consultation on best value tendering.

Youth Justice

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the priorities of the Youth Justice Unit and other youth justice initiatives.

David Hanson: Since the creation of the Joint Youth Justice Unit in November 2007, I have had a number of meetings with my right hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Ed Balls) to discuss youth justice. Our respective Ministers of State also meet one another regularly to discuss these matters. There are also regular meetings between Ministers and the Youth Justice Board to monitor performance and discuss topical issues.

Belmarsh Prison

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether there is a regime at HMP Belmarsh whereby prisoners are granted access to amenities in recognition of good conduct;
	(2)  what amenities are available for use by prisoners at HMP Belmarsh.

Maria Eagle: In common with all other prisons, HMP Belmarsh provides an Incentive and Earned Privileges Scheme (IEP) enabling prisoners to earn additional privileges in recognition of good conduct and compliance with individual sentence planning targets.
	Prisoners have access to a range of amenities. These include education facilities, workshops, the gymnasium, the chapel and chapel groups, pool tables, board games, and in-cell television. Prisoners are also able to purchase a range of items for personal use. Under prison rules all prisoners are entitled to receive social visits and to communicate with friends and family either by writing or by telephone.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible; and on what assumptions for  (a) discount and  (b) longevity the estimate is based;
	(2)  what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1990-91;
	(3)  what the  (a) rate and  (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility in each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: For the vast majority of staff, information since 2000-01 is contained in the resource accounts for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). These have been produced under differing sets of assumptions (e.g. on longevity) so are not comparable across years. Full details can be found on the civil service pensions website at:
	www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk
	Additionally, as a result of the creation of Her Majesty's Courts Service in April 2005, this Department became responsible for staff previously employed by 42 magistrates courts committees (MCCs). With the exception of the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority who were also part of the civil service pension scheme, each of the remaining 41 areas were members of a Local Government Pension Scheme. The Department took responsibility for all pension liabilities at that time which were estimated to be 268 million. This was reflected in the departmental accounts as a provision. The true value of this provision will only be known when all the returns are received from the Local Government Pension Funds. When that figure becomes clearer, HM Treasury will need to determine the discount rate to be applied.
	This Department is also responsible for the administration of the pension scheme for the judiciary. Information since 2003-04 is contained in the resource accounts for the Judicial Pension Scheme. Copies of the resource accounts can be found on the Department's website.
	Probation boards participate in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), administered by various bodies. The MOJ is not responsible for the LGPS. Details of liabilities and contribution rates relevant to probation boards can be found in the annual accounts of the national probation service.
	The Legal Services Commission operates two pension schemes providing benefits based on final pensionable salary. The assets are held separately from those of the Commission and the Trustees set contributions having taken advice from the Scheme Actuary. Details can be found in the Commission's annual report.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the effect on his Department's expenditure would be from increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which his Department is responsible by 1 per cent.; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and its Executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, increasing the employee contributions will have no impact on the Department's expenditure. There is no direct link between the employee and the Department's contributions so the cost would fall only to the member of staff.
	The majority of the information about the value of pensions for the highest paid members of staff is contained in the Remuneration Report which is part of the Department's accounts.
	No formal estimates have been made of any effect of a change in the member's contribution under the Judicial Pension Scheme.
	Probation boards participate in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), administered by various bodies. The MOJ is not responsible for the LGPS. Details of liabilities and contribution rates relevant to probation boards can be found in the annual accounts of the national probation service.
	The Legal Services Commission operates two pension schemes providing benefits based on final pensionable salary. The assets are held separately from those of the Commission and the Trustees set contributions having taken advice from the Scheme Actuary. Details can be found in the Commission's annual report.

Domestic Violence: Prosecutions

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prosecutions for offences relating to domestic violence there were in each year since 2003;
	(2)  what proportion of prosecutions for offences connected to domestic violence resulted in conviction in each year since 2003.

Maria Eagle: The data held centrally by my Department on the court proceedings database do not contain information about the circumstances behind each case other than the information that may be gleaned from the offence itself. As a result offences involving an element of domestic violence cannot be identified.

Electronic Government

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's  (a) internal and  (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of publications is carried out electronically.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not have any mechanisms to undertake monitoring of the extent of electronic correspondence (internal or external) or publication distribution. However, the Department and its agencies are taking steps to reduce paper usage by encouraging the take-up of electronic channels, formats and technology wherever possible.

Limitation of Actions

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 186W, on A  v. Hoare, what progress has been made by the Government in their consideration of the implications of the ruling for civil claims.

Bridget Prentice: Following the decision of the House of Lords in A  v. Hoare and a number of other cases, the limitation period for actions involving trespass to the person has been brought into line with that for other actions for personal injury, namely three years from when the injury occurred or the date on which the victim knows that he or she has good grounds to sue the defendant for the injury caused, whichever is the later. The court has a discretion to extend this period without limit in appropriate cases.
	The decision addresses a significant criticism of the law of limitation made by the Law Commission in their 2001 report Limitation of Actions (Law Com 270). This report recommended a general overhaul of current legislation contained in the Limitation Act 1980. The Government accepted the Law Commission's recommendations in principle, subject to further work in certain areas, in July 2002. This detailed examination of the impact has revealed several issues that need to be resolved. The Government will make a further announcement about the way forward when this work is complete.

Miscarriages of Justice: Compensation

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what provision there is for appeal against refusal of compensation for wrongful conviction, following the abolition of the discretionary scheme in November 2006.

Maria Eagle: Applicants who are refused eligibility for compensation under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 may make written representations to the Secretary of State if they believe that he did not take into account evidence which they had provided when reaching his decision to refuse their application, or if they have fresh evidence. Alternatively it is always open to the applicant to seek leave to judicially review the decision.

Office of the Public Guardian: Powers of Attorney

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information he has on the time taken to administer the registration of lasting powers of attorney by the Public Guardian Office (PGO); and what steps are being taken to improve the performance of the PGO in this respect.

Bridget Prentice: The Mental Capacity Act 2005 was fully implemented on 1 October 2007. It also introduced new lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) to enable people to appoint someone to make decisions on their behalf in relation to their property and affairs and/or their health and welfare.
	In addition, enduring powers of attorney (EPAs) made prior to October 2007 remain valid.
	All LPAs must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before they can be used. EPAs only need to be registered with the OPG once the person to whom they relate has lost capacity.
	The total number of applications to register both types of power of attorney since the new legislation came into force in October has greatly exceeded forecasts. The last three months in particular have seen volumes again increase even more sharply. This has put a strain on resources and led to delays.
	It is currently taking staff around six weeks to process and check LPAs to ensure they are valid before other parties can be notified that an application has been made. Applications then enter a statutory waiting period of 42 days during which objections can be made against the application. This is an important safeguard to allow any concerns about the power to be aired. Where no objections are received, staff are registering the power and notifying the applicant within another week.
	Steps have been taken to address the delays in this process which exist mainly at the point where applications are received and checked:
	Additional staff are being taken on at all levels to deal with processing the higher than expected volumes.
	Some staff have already been taken on temporarily in some of the more process-driven areas to increase capacity quickly.
	Other staff are currently undergoing training to ensure they can carry out their new roles effectively.
	Procuring additional IT equipment to increase the team's capacity to scan and check applications at the front end. The additional equipment has been ordered and is awaiting installation.
	As a result of these steps, I expect the OPG to have reached a point where it has reduced the front-end period spent processing and checking applications to two weeks in June. This would be in line with the level of service that we aim to offer our customers and which is tracked as a corporate target as one of the OPG's key performance indicators.

Open Prisons: Employment

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether prisoners in open prisons employed by outside companies are subject to prison rules.

David Hanson: Prisoners that undertake work placements under the supervision of outside companies are subject at all times to prison rules. Placements are supported by memoranda of understanding agreed between the prison, the prisoner and the employer setting out the terms of the arrangement.

Prisoners Release

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been released in April 2008 as a result of early release schemes.

David Hanson: The latest available information relates to February, when there were about 2,500 releases on end of custody licence, 1,000 releases under home detention curfew and 50 prisoners removed from the country under the Early Removal scheme. About 150 prisoners were released on parole.

Prisoners: Children in Care

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of the prison population was in local authority care at some point when under the age of 16 years at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Hanson: Information on the total number of prisoners in all prison establishments in England and Wales who were in local authority care at some point when under the age of 16 is not centrally available.
	However, a Social Exclusion Unit report Reducing re-offending by ex-prisoners published in 2002 reported that 27 per cent. of the prison population had been taken into care as a child against an average across the general population of 2 per cent.

Prisoners: Females

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of self-mutilation by women were recorded in each prison in the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service does not use the term 'self-mutilation'.
	The following table includes all incidents of self-harm by girls and women in any prisons that held them in the period in question. It should be noted that the numbers refer to incidents not people (a number of individuals self-harm on more than one occasion and account for a disproportionate ,number of incidents), and do not reflect the severity of incidents, i.e. include all incidents no matter how minor the self-harm as well as noose/ligature making (even where no injury occurred).
	
		
			  Self-harm incidents( 1) 
			  Prison  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Askham Grange 1 0 2 1 0 
			 Brockhill 674 475 278 252 (2) 
			 Bronzefield (3) 274 831 1,165 1,736 
			 Buckley Hall 765 1,082 597 (2) (2) 
			 Bullwood Hall 659 1,065 1,584 305 2 
			 Cookham Wood 158 163 197 144 216 
			 Downview 185 71 362 282 255 
			 Drake Hall 18 23 44 22 56 
			 Durham 317 241 56 (3) (3) 
			 East Sutton Park 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Eastwood Park 789 1,163 2,597 2,147 1992 
			 Edmunds Hill 156 207 (2) (2) (2) 
			 Foston Hall 185 614 774 614 1,166 
			 Holloway 958 1,184 1,402 1,475 1,104 
			 Low Newton 381 800 1,129 746 984 
			 Morton Hall 63 50 49 81 60 
			 New Hall 1,689 1,125 1,065 1,266 1,191 
			 Peterborough (3) (3) 823 1,129 888 
			 Send 78 78 97 200 155 
			 Styal 376 1,061 1,416 1,581 1,312 
			 Winchester 38 14 (2) (2) (2) 
			 (1) The numbers of self harm incidents reported here are based on information supplied by prisons through the Prison Service Incident Reporting System (IRS). Self-harm is a high volume incident and is subject to technical and recording problems. Nevertheless, the system provides a sensible indication of the scale of self-harm but the numbers should not be treated as absolute. These figures may differ from previously published figures as some incidents are retrospectively added to IRS. (2) Prison re-rolled from female to male. (3) Prison was not open yet.

Prisoners: Suicide

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce suicides in prison.

Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service has a broad, integrated and evidence-based prisoner suicide prevention strategy that seeks to reduce the distress of all who live and work in prisons. This encompasses a wide spectrum of prison and Department of Health work around such issues as mental health, drugs, resettlement, leadership and training.
	A revised strategy was published in October 2007 with implementation to be completed in every prison by the end of April 2008. This builds on several years of learning from the experiences of prisoners, staff, investigators, inspectors and others, and aims to embed improved suicide prevention and self-harm management methods of working in all areas of prison life. It incorporates the care-planning system for at-risk prisoners, improved cross-agency information flows, and also reflects long-standing areas of safer custody work such as listener and insider peer supporters, local suicide prevention co-ordinators and working with outside organisations.

Prisons

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what consultative meetings Lord Carter has held as part of his prisons review;
	(2)  what written submissions Lord Carter has received as part of his prisons review.

Maria Eagle: In December the Government accepted Lord Carter of Coles' report 'Securing the Future: proposals for an efficient and sustainable use of custody in England and Wales'. Lord Carter had access to a range of expertise and advice in drawing up his report and consulted a variety of stakeholders.

Prisons: Drugs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many visitors to prisons were found to be in possession of illegal drugs in each year since 1997; how many were referred to the police; and what action was taken in respect of those not referred to the police.

David Hanson: The Prison Service takes very seriously any attempt to smuggle drugs. The firmest possible action is taken against prisoners and visitors caught supplying drugs. The Offender Management Act 2007 creates a specific criminal offence of smuggling drugs into prisons. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 89W.
	A comprehensive framework is in place for dealing with visitors who seek to smuggle drugs through visits. The number of visitors suspected of involvement in drug smuggling incidents and the action taken internally by prisons along with the number of visitors arrested is detailed in the following table.
	No record is kept of the number of visitors found to be in possession of illegal drugs but a good indication is the number arrested.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
	
		
			   1999-2000( 1)  2000-07  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Visitors suspected of smuggling drugs 3,144 3,282 4,030 3,502 3,598 4,283 15,422 3,393 
			 Visitors banned 2,464 2,584 2,941 2,625 2,730 2,092 3,574 2,729 
			 Visitors on closed visits 322 333 627 625 528 880 1,374 494 
			 Incidents involving visitor arrests(2) 735 509 529 405 456 444 440 383 
			 (1) The first year in which visits ban data became available. (2) Number of reported drug incidents in which a visitor was suspected of involvement and arrested by police. A particular incident may involve more than one arrest. 
		
	
	Data covering the 2007-08 financial year are not yet available.

Prisons: Employment

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what rules are in place governing the employment of prisoners by external companies.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service has a significant number of contracts and contacts with the private sector that lead to prisoners undertaking work or training within prisons but these do not create legally recognised employee/employer relationships and the prisoners are always under the governors, overall management and supervision.

Prisons: Employment

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any prisoners in contracted out prisons are employed by outside companies.

Maria Eagle: There are no prisoners currently in the 11 contracted prisons who are employed by outside companies either at the prison or while Released On Temporary License (ROTL).

Prisons: Housing

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison residential quarters are occupied by prison officers; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The remaining Prison Service quarters are occupied by Prison Service staff, including prison officers, chaplains and agricultural workers or in a small number of cases, by former prison staff or relatives on compassionate grounds. Of the 480 or so remaining quarters some 285 are occupied by serving prison officers.

Prisons: Housing

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison residential quarters occupied by prison officers are planned to be let to avoid the costs that would be incurred in upgrading properties to meet the 2010 Decent Housing Standard; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Since 1987 the policy has been not to provide prison quarters and to dispose of the existing quarters under the then discount sales scheme or on the open market. Since that time some 12,000 quarters have been sold and some 480 remain. Once these remaining quarters are declared surplus to requirements and become vacant they are sold on the open market. In the financial year 2008-09 some 50 quarters are anticipated to be sold in this manner.
	There are four quarters at HMP Wandsworth however that are not to be sold, on account of their strategic location on the front of the prison wall, and these are due to be transferred on a short to medium-term basis to a housing association or similar body who will source funding, possibly from a housing corporation to undertake the necessary works and then let the properties to local families who are deemed most in need of affordable social housing. A similar arrangement has been in place for some years for residential flats adjacent to Wormwood Scrubs.

Secure Training Centres: Manpower

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in each secure training centre are educated to degree level; and how many have postgraduate qualifications in child care or education.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of staff working in Hassockfield, Medway and Rainsbrook secure training centres who hold a degree, or have a postgraduate child care or education qualification. Oakhill does not collate the information requested.
	
		
			  Establishment  Degree  Postgraduate child care or education qualification 
			 Rainsbrook 53 27 
			 Medway 68 33 
			 Oakhill(1) n/a n/a 
			 Hassockfield 57 23 
			 (1 )Oakhill does not collate statistics on the qualifications of its staff.  Source: Youth Justice Board.

Secure Training Centres: Sick Leave

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average sickness rate was for staff in each secure training centre in the latest year for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table shows the average rate of sickness absence at each secure training centre during the 12 months ending 24 April 2008.
	
		
			  Establishment  Percentage of staff days lost through sickness absence 
			 Rainsbrook 5.6 
			 Medway 5.9 
			 Hassockfield 4.2 
			 Oakhill 10.7 
			  Note: Figures provided by the YJB. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Sentencing

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has conducted a race impact assessment of indeterminate sentencing for public protection.

David Hanson: A consultation on the Criminal Justice Bill: Initial Partial Race Equality Impact Assessment was undertaken in 2003. Additionally the Commission for Racial Equality helped the Home Office identify a list of provisions in the Criminal Justice Act for race equality impact assessment, which did not include indeterminate sentences for public protection. We have not conducted a race assessment impact on these provisions since their implementation. The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill contains clauses which will reform public protection sentences.

Sentencing

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many black and minority ethnic  (a) men and  (b) women have received an indeterminate sentence for public protection in each month since sentencing was introduced.

David Hanson: The following table gives the number of prisoners received into prison establishments in England and Wales under an indeterminate sentence for public protection in each month since April 2005:
	
		
			   Monthly receptions 
			 April and May 2005(1) 10 
			 June 2005 20 
			 July 2005 30 
			 August 2005 40 
			 September 2005 60 
			 October 2005 90 
			 November 2005 70 
			 December 2005 60 
			 January 2006 80 
			 February 2006 100 
			 March 2006 130 
			 April 2006 100 
			 May 2006 120 
			 June 2006 110 
			 July 2006 140 
			 August 2006 140 
			 September 2006 150 
			 October 2006 120 
			 November 2006 180 
			 December 2006 190 
			 January 2007 140 
			 February 2007 150 
			 March 2007 160 
			 April 2007 120 
			 May 2007 170 
			 June 2007 120 
			 July 2007 150 
			 August 2007 120 
			 September 2007 120 
			 October 2007 150 
			 November 2007 140 
			 December 2007 130 
			 January 2008 160 
			 February 2008 140 
			 (1) Combined. 
		
	
	These monthly figures are too small to provide a reliable breakdown by gender and ethnicity, but we can provide the total number of black and minority ethnic men and women currently serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP).
	As at the end of February 2008 there were 4,000 offenders serving an IPP in prison establishments in England and Wales, including 820 males and 10 females from black and minority ethnic groups.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. As with any large scale recording system they are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing, so the numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Young Offenders: Custodial Treatment

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) under 18 and (ii) 18 to 21 years old were held in the adult prison estate on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Hanson: At the end of February 2008 there were  (a) (i) 2,283 males aged under 18 and (ii) 9,112 males aged between 18 to 20 and  (b) (i) 65 females aged under 18 and (ii) 434 females aged 18 to 20 in all prison establishments in England and Wales.
	Juvenile prisoners (those aged under 18) are usually held in designated units and prisons. In exceptional individual circumstances they may be held separately within an adult prison for a short period. Similarly sentenced 18 to 20-year-olds are usually held in designated units and establishments. Current operational practice is to hold unsentenced 18 to 20-year-olds in either an adult prison or in cells designated as prison cells within young offender institutions, and in exceptional circumstances the Secretary of State has the power to direct an 18 to 20-year-old sentenced offender to be held as an adult.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Young Offenders: Custodial Treatment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children under 18 years were placed in young offender institutions in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: Young Offender Institutions accommodate sentenced prisoners aged from 15 to 21. The following table gives the number of 15 to 17-year-olds received under immediate custodial sentences into prison establishments in England and Wales between 1997 and 2006.
	
		
			   Aged 15 to 17  (Male and Female) 
			 1997 5,617 
			 1998 5,585 
			 1999 5,877 
			 2000 5,834 
			 2001 5,903 
			 2002 5,738 
			 2003 4,918 
			 2004 5,172 
			 2005 5,175 
			 2006 5,291 
		
	
	This table is taken from table 7.6 in the Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2006, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library and which can be found at this website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Young Offenders: Self-Mutilation

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of self-mutilation by juveniles were recorded in each prison in the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service does not use the term 'self-mutilation'. The following table includes all incidents of self-harm by 15 to 17-year-olds in any prisons where they were held in the period in question. It should be noted that the numbers refer to incidents not people (a number of individuals self-harm on more than one occasion and account for a disproportionate number of incidents), and do not reflect the severity of incidents, i.e. include all incidents no matter how minor the self-harm as well as noose/ligature making (even where no injury occurred).
	
		
			  Self-harm incidents( 1) 
			  Prison  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Ashfield 134 159 132 163 94 
			 Brinsford 16 4 38 62 39 
			 Brockhill 12 1 0 0 0 
			 Bullwood Hall 33 194 149 0 0 
			 Castington 35 27 29 40 24 
			 Cookham Wood 0 0 26 14 27 
			 Downview 0 0 126 20 3 
			 Eastwood Park 45 131 130 114 212 
			 Feltham 41 56 51 39 52 
			 Foston Hall 0 0 0 0 148 
			 High Down 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Hindley 30 13 69 42 15 
			 Hollesley Bay 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Holloway 44 37 0 0 0 
			 Huntercombe 22 26 57 45 62 
			 Lancaster Farms 3 10 28 77 5 
			 Leeds 0 0 0 2 0 
			 New Hall 292 196 155 136 175 
			 Onley 75 1 0 0 0 
			 Parc 25 17 14 19 28 
			 Stoke Heath 31 92 73 83 89 
			 Styal 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Thorn Cross 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Warren Hill 7 19 11 12 11 
			 Wellington 2 10 25 20 10 
			 Wetherby 0 0 49 34 10 
			 Woodhill 0 1 0 0 0 
			 (1)The numbers of self harm incidents reported here are based on information supplied by prisons through the Prison Service incident reporting system (IRS). Self-harm is a high volume incident and is subject to technical and recording problems. Nevertheless, the system provides a sensible indication of the scale of self-harm but the numbers should not be treated as absolute. These figures may differ from previously published figures as some incidents are retrospectively added to IRS.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Bell Pottinger Group

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what payments his Department and its predecessor made to the Bell Pottinger Group in each of the last five years; and on what dates and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Kevin Brennan: Our financial records show that the Department has not made any payments to the company Bell Pottinger Group in the last five years.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many new schools have been commissioned under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and how many of them were commissioned under the private finance initiative model.

Jim Knight: Approximately 180 new schools in 40 local authority areas have been commissioned following the approval of outline business cases as part of Building Schools for the Future. Of these we expect approximately 125 to be delivered under the private finance initiative.
	For the purpose of this question, new schools have been defined as those that are undertaking a minimum of 75 per cent. or greater new build content. The figures provided are approximate because the scope of individual BSF projects and/or procurement methods may change as projects are further developed.

Cadets: Armed Forces

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has provided to cadet forces in schools in the last three years.

Jim Knight: The Department does not provide funding for cadet forces in schools. Cadet forces in schools are funded by the Ministry of Defence.

Children in Care: Missing Persons

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in care were reported missing in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of children looked after by English local authorities who were reported as missing in each of the years ending 31 March 2003 to 2007 is shown in the following table 1. Where a child was reported missing from his or her agreed placement on more than one occasion during the same year, he or she has been counted only once.
	
		
			  Table 1: Children looked after who were reported missing during the years ending 31 March 2003 to 2007( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) England 
			  Number 
			   2003( 5)  2004( 6)  2005( 6)  2006( 6)  2007( 6) 
			 Children looked after who were reported as missing from their placement(1, 2, 3, 4) 1,200 830 970 1,000 1,100 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Children looked after at any time during the year ending 31 March. (3) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (4) A child is recorded with a missing placement if he/she is absent for more than 24 hours from his/her agreed placement. Children who are missing from care are categorised in three types of missing placements: (a) In Refuge for children at risk, as defined in Section 51 of Children Act 1989, (b) Whereabouts of young people known to social services (but not in refuge) excluding agreed absences from placement such as holidays or planned breaks, (c) Whereabouts unknown. (5) Figures are taken from the SSDA903 one-third sample survey. (6) Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return which since 2004 covered all looked after children. (7) Historical figures may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (8) To maintain the confidentiality of each individual child, data at national level are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 or to the nearest 10 otherwise.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of child care  (a) places and  (b) providers were (i) maintained, (ii) private, (iii) voluntary and (iv) independent in (A) Basingstoke constituency, (B) Hampshire and (C) England at the latest date for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Since 2003, Ofsted has been responsible for the registration and inspection of child care providers. The tables show the number of providers and places registered with Ofsted at 31 March 2007 for Hampshire local authority and England.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of registered child care providers and places in Hampshire, position at 31 March 2007 
			   Child minders  Full day care  Out of school day care 
			 Providers 2,500 300 200 
			 Places 12,000 14,200 9,600 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. 2. Excludes the number of child care places in sessional day care and creche day care.  Source: Ofsted 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 : Number of registered child care providers and places in  England , position at 31 March 2007 
			   Child minders  Full day care  Out of school day care 
			 Providers 69,900 13,800 10,600 
			 Places 317,700 598,700 365,400 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. 2. Excludes the number of child care places in sessional day care and creche day care.  Source: Ofsted 
		
	
	Data from the 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey on the number and proportion of child care places in England by the type of ownership are shown in the following table. Data are not available at a local authority level.
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of Ofsted registered places in England, by ownership, 2006 
			   Full day care  Full day care in children's centres  Sessional  After school clubs  Holiday clubs 
			  Private, voluntary and independent  (Number) 477,900 14,300 265,700 200,500 181,200 
			 Private 379,400 7,000 83,000 90,100 97,500 
			 Voluntary 99,700 7,400 183,500 110,700 83,600 
			  Maintained 54,300 21,900 12,800 56,300 71,200 
			 Local authority 30,600 18,800 9,600 31,400 56,700 
			 School/college 24,000 3,300 3,200 25,300 14,500 
			 Other 14,500 1,700 700 3,500 12,400 
			   
			  Private, voluntary and independent  (Percentage) 88 (1)40 95 77 69 
			 Private 70 19 30 35 37 
			 Voluntary 18 (1)20 66 43 32 
			  Maintained 10 58 5 22 27 
			 Local authority 6 50 3 12 21 
			 School/college 4 (1)9 1 10 5 
			 Other 3 (1)4 0.5 1 5 
			 (1) Low base size, figures should be treated as an indicative guide only. 
		
	
	The following table shows the number and proportion of child care providers in England by the type of ownership, from the 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey. Data are not available at a local authority level.
	
		
			  Table 4: Ownership of child care providers in England, 2006 
			   Full day care  Full day care in children's centres  Sessional  After school clubs  Holiday clubs 
			  Private, voluntary or independent (Number) 11,300 550 9,300 5,900 4,600 
			 Private 8,300 400 2,700 3,400 2,300 
			 Voluntary 3,000 150 6,600 2,500 2,300 
			  Maintained 1,300 200 400 1,600 1,500 
			 Local authority 700 150 300 800 1,200 
			 School/college 600 50 100 800 300 
			 Other 300 50 (1) 100 300 
			   
			  Private, voluntary or independent (Percentage) 89 36 96 77 72 
			 Private 65 17 27 33 36 
			 Voluntary 24 20 68 44 36 
			  Maintained 10 57 5 22 25 
			 Local authority 5 50 4 11 19 
			 School/college 5 8 1 11 5 
			 Other 2 6 0.5 1 4 
			 (1) Fewer than 50 providers; data have not been included due to too small a base size.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of paid childcare staff in those settings for which his Department has responsibility were dismissed from employment in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the dismissal from employment of paid child care staff is not collected or held centrally by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Children: Daycare

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many childcare places there are in each local authority; what estimate he has made of the level of demand for places in each authority; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Since 2003 Ofsted has been responsible for the registration of child care providers. Quarterly reports of the numbers of registered child care providers and places available in each top tier local authority can be accessed from the Ofsted website, via the following link:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/pQrtal/site/Internet/menuitem.eace3f09a603f6d9c3172a8a08c08a0c/?vgnextoid=067489433118e010VgnVCM1000003507640aRCRD
	Analysis of demand for child care formed a significant element of the child care sufficiency assessments which local authorities were required to complete by 31 March 2008. Local authorities are now in a position to compare the local supply of, and demand for, childcare places, and to work to fill gaps between the two so as to satisfy their new duty to secure sufficient child care for working parents.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of his Department's budget was allocated directly by his Department and not devolved to schools or local authorities in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The proportion of DCSF's budget allocated directly by the Department and not devolved to schools or local authorities in 2007-08 is 18 per cent.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) most recent annual budget,  (b) purpose and  (c) staff complement is of each of his Department's (i) advisory bodies, (ii) tribunals and (iii) corporations.

Kevin Brennan: The following answer outlines the  (a) most recent annual budget,  (b) purpose and  (c) staff complement of the each of the Department's (i) advisory bodies, (ii) corporations and (iii) tribunals.
	 (i)  Advisory Bodies
	 Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy
	(a) The annual net budget is 0.4 million.
	(b) The Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy provides advice to Government and monitors the success of its strategy towards reducing the rate of teenage conceptions, with the specific aim of halving the rate of conceptions among under 18s by 2010, and increasing the participation of teenage parents in education, employment and training to reduce risk of their long-term social exclusion.
	(c) The body does not employ any staff.
	 Teachers' TV board of governors
	(a) Net annual budget is 0.2 million.
	(b) The Board provides open accountability about the plans and performance of Teachers TV to the channel's audience, stakeholders and to the public. The Board upholds the editorial independence of Teachers TV; ensures that the channel supplier adopts the best practices of a UK public service broadcaster; incentivises the supplier to fulfil the Departments strategic aims; holds the supplier to account for the public funds it receives via an annual performance review; monitors the contractual relationship with the supplier and ensures that Teachers TV develops so that it meets the needs of its audience.
	(c) The board currently employs 1.9 Staff FTE.
	 Children's Plan Expert Group
	(a) Net annual budget is 0.1 million.
	(b) There are three expert groups (ages 0-7, 8-13, and 14-19) whose remit will be to look at services and policies affecting children, young people and families and to make recommendations to the Secretary of State on how best to deliver his long-term objectives to:
	Improve the health and well-being of children and young people
	Safeguard the young and vulnerable
	Close the gap in educational achievement between those from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers
	'Raise our game' on raising standards
	Increase post-16 participation and attainment
	Increase the number of children and young people on the path to success
	(c) There were five staff employed for three months of the year
	 Information Standards Board
	(a) Net annual budget for 0.01 million.
	(b) The Information Standards Board (ISB) for education, skills and children's services in England is the system-wide authority for all information and data standards. Its mission is to facilitate information sharing across the system; agree information standards to aid front line delivery; improve efficiency, reduce costs and minimise bureaucracy. The ISB is designated as an Internal Advisory Committee, but has ministerial authority to make recommendations and approve decisions on behalf of the system.
	(c) The board does not employ staff
	 Talent Taskforce
	(a) The net annual budget is 1.84 million.
	(b) The Talent and Enterprise Taskforce is based in the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) but reports through to the cross-government Talent and Enterprise Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister underlining his personal commitment to the talent agenda. Central to the role of the Taskforce is promoting the imperative to unlock talent. The projects we undertake should aim to provide vehicles to communicate and bring that narrative alive. There is already a great wealth of constructive activity happening. The Taskforce aim is to recognise and build on that. Though based in Government, the Taskforce is outward facing. Our goal is to engage a wide range of influential networks, organizations and individuals across the educational, business, community and voluntary sectors and to add value.
	(c) The taskforce currently employs five Staff FTE.
	 National Council for Educational Excellence
	(a) The net annual budget is 0.03 million.
	(b) The National Council for Educational Excellence (NCEE) has a remit to provide advice to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families about strategy and measures to achieve world-class education performance for all children and young people from birth to age 19.
	The Council is focused on providing advice and mobilising all sectors to provide the support to increase standards. Council members will act as advocates and champions to transform expectations and aspirations for the education system, and to rally the teaching profession, businesses, the third sector, universities and colleges, schools, and parents to raise standards year on year.
	(c) The council employs four staff.
	 Ministerial Taskforce for Home Access to Technology for Children
	(a) The taskforce does not have a dedicated budget.
	(b) In January 2007 Minister of State Jim Knight announced the setting up of a Home Access taskforce to advise Government of possible solutions for universal home access for all school age children in England. Representatives on the taskforce come from industry, the third sector and teaching profession. Working together in partnership with industry and the third sector is the only way we can hope to deliver and sustain universal access.
	(c) The taskforce does not employ any staff.
	 (ii)  Corporations
	 General Teachers Council of England
	(a) Net annual budget of 0.7 million.
	(b) The General Teaching Council for England is the independent professional body for teaching in England.
	It works for children, through teachers, in the interests of the public. It is committed to making sure young people have the best possible standards of learning and achievement.
	It keeps a register of qualified teachers in England and sets out and enforces standards for the teaching profession in the interests of the public.
	It provides advice to government and other agencies on important issues that affect the quality of teaching and learning.
	It works with teachers to make sure its advice is based on practical experience and reliable research.
	It brings together teachers and other partners with an interest in the education service, including parents, governors and employers.
	(c) The staff complement is 206.
	 (iii)  Tribunals
	Currently, the Department is not responsible for any tribunals.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) surveys,  (b) questionnaires and  (c) other services were provided by polling companies for his Department in financial year 2007-08, broken down by company.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested is not held centrally. Information on individual management units conducting their own opinion polls of either the public or of staff can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Departmental Reviews

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) internal and  (b) external reviews his Department is conducting; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department is collating the information requested. When I have had the opportunity to consider this information I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of that reply in the House Library.

Departmental Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the principal objectives and targets of each directorate within his Department are; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: There are four main directorates in my Department. Each directorate contributes to departmental strategic objectives (DSOs), to ensure cross-directorate working. Primarily, the Children and Families Directorate contributes to DSOs 1 and 2; the Schools Directorate contributes to DSOs 3 and 4; and the Young People's Directorate contributes to DSOs 5 and 6. Full details of DSOs and their underpinning indicators, which were announced in the 2007 comprehensive spending review, are available on the DCSF website at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/dsoindicators/

Dyslexia

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what representations his Department has received on the proposal that at least one teacher in every school should have the nationally recognised specialist qualification accredited by the British Dyslexia Association for teachers to assess and support dyslexic children;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the results of the Xtraordinary People No to Failure report on the rate of dyslexia-specific learning difficulties among failing children; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what provision his Department has made for  (a) training dyslexia specialists and  (b) specialist dyslexia teaching support within personalised learning plans;
	(4)  what provision has been made for specialist dyslexia teaching within the  (a) Every Child a Reader,  (b) Every Child a Writer and  (c) Every Child Counts programme;
	(5)  what assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of the reading recovery scheme for dyslexic children.

Kevin Brennan: We have received a number of representations that at least one teacher in every school should have a specialist dyslexia qualification.
	All local authorities and schools must have regard to the special educational needs code of practice which provides advice on their statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for pupils' special educational needs. Children with dyslexia should have their needs identified and support put in place.
	To identify and promote best practice, we are working with dyslexia organisations on the No to Failure project, through which children in trailblazer schools are screened and specialist teaching provided to those identified at risk of dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. We are supporting this project with just over 1 million funding over three years.
	The recently published report from No to Failure says a significant proportion of participating children not achieving expected levels of attainment are at risk of dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties. However, the report does not indicate how many had already been identified with SEN, nor does it evaluate the impact of specialist teaching on children's progression. We are looking forward to seeing the final report later this year, which we understand will contain such an evaluation.
	Through No to Failure, we have commissioned Dr. Chris Singleton to summarise published research on the impact of specialist dyslexia teaching. We will consider whether and how we should promote specialist dyslexia teaching as best practice in the light of evidence of its impact.
	All schools receive a school development grant which they are able to use to support improvements in any aspect of teaching and learning. This can include professional development for teachers intending to be dyslexia specialists. It is however for individual teachers and their schools to determine training and development needs and how best to address them. This would also hold true for support staff. Local authorities may retain a proportion of this grant, under certain conditions, to provide specific training and development in SEN.
	To help those working in schools with identifying and supporting children with dyslexia, last October we launched the Inclusion Development Programme, which is offering professional development in key areas of SEN starting with training on communication difficulties, including dyslexia. The Inclusion Development Programme materials were developed in close consultation with dyslexia organisations.
	Our commitment through the Primary and Secondary national strategies is to ensure Quality First teaching for all. The Every Child a Reader and Every Child Counts initiatives are focused on providing additional intervention for the 5 per cent. of children facing the most difficulties with reading and mathematics. They do not provide a specific focus on provision for children with dyslexia. Every Child a Reader is being rolled out to reach 30,000 children a year by 2010-11.
	Every Child Counts is currently in a research phase and will be informed by the Williams review of the teaching of mathematics that is due to be published in June this year. The intention is that Every Child Counts will be aimed at children whose attainment in the early stages of mathematics shows they are not making expected progress for their age.
	Every Child a Writer is a new programme announced at the end of last year. The intentionas stated in our Children's Planis that this will offer support later in primary school than Every Child a Reader and Every Child Counts and reach a greater number of pupils. Further announcements will be made about Every Child a Writer in due course.
	Evaluations of the Every Child a Reader pilotwhich provides Reading Recovery for children from among those having the most difficulties in learning to readwere published in 2006 and 2007. These are available on
	www.everychildareader.org.uk.
	The evaluation of Every Child a Reader in London in 2005-06 showed that 87 per cent. of children who had received Reading Recovery were considered to have made average to exceptional progress in reading comprehension. However, these evaluations did not include looking at the efficacy of Reading Recovery for children with dyslexia.
	The SEN code of practice says that
	effective management, school ethos and the learning environment, curricular, pastoral and discipline arrangements can help prevent some special educational needs arising, and minimise others (paragraph 5:18).
	Where whole school arrangements for teaching and learning are not addressing a child's learning difficulties, schools have a statutory duty to do their best to ensure that the necessary provision is made for any pupil who has special educational needs. It follows that if a child with dyslexia is not benefiting from their participation in any or all of the three initiatives, the school must make additional or different arrangements to address the child's special educational needs.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of those in post-16 education were in receipt of the education maintenance allowance in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: In the academic year 2006/07, 46 per cent. of 16-19 year old learners in full time education received education maintenance allowance.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of eligible pupils gained no A* to C graded GCSEs in 2007, broken down by  (a) multiple deprivation decile and  (b) local authority area.

Jim Knight: For statistics based on school location the available information can be found in the Statistical First Release 'GCSE and Equivalent Examination Results in England 2006/07' available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000768/index.shtml.
	Within this Statistical First Release:
	(a) Table 21 shows the GCSE and equivalent achievement of pupils by the income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) decile of the school location.
	(b) Table 18 shows the GCSE and equivalent achievement of pupils by local authority area.
	Information on pupils gaining no A* to C graded GCSEs can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	For statistics based on pupil residence, further information on GCSE and equivalent attainment of pupils by the IDACI decile can be found in the additional tables attached to the Statistical First Release 'National Curriculum Assessment, GCSE and Equivalent Attainment and Post-16 Attainment by Pupil Characteristics, in England 2006/07' available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000759/index.shtml.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils in Suffolk were entered for fewer than five GCSEs in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information is given in the following tables:
	
		
			  Suffolk 
			   Percentage of pupils entered for fewer than  five GCSEs  Number of pupils entered for fewer than five GCSEs 
			 2002/03 10.8 864 
			 2003/04 8.3 723 
			 2004/05 7.4 592 
			 2005/06 7.1 565 
			 2006/07 10.4 823 
		
	
	
		
			   Percentage of pupils entered for fewer than five GCSEs (or equivalen t*)  Number of pupils entered for fewer than five GCSEs (or equivalent*) 
			 2002/03 7.8 674 
			 2003/04 4.8 384 
			 2004/05 4.4 352 
			 2005/06 4.7 375 
			 2006/07 5.1 402 
		
	
	
		
			  England 
			   Percentage of pupils entered for fewer than five GCSEs  Number of pupils entered for fewer than five GCSEs (or equivalent*) 
			 2002/03 11.8 75,116 
			 2003/04 8.5 49,956 
			 2004/05 9.2 53,883 
			 2005/06 9.8 58,185 
			 2006/07 12.3 73,351 
		
	
	
		
			   Percentage of pupils entered for fewer than five GCSEs (or equivalent*)  Number of pupils entered for fewer than five GCSEs (or equivalent*) 
			 2002/03 8.7 55,602 
			 2003/04 6.8 43,391 
			 2004/05 6.8 43,138 
			 2005/06 6.7 43,751 
			 2006/07 5.7 34,044 
			 * Figures from 2003/04 onwards include equivalencies. Figures for 2002/03 relate to GCSEs and GNVQs only.   Notes:  1. From 2004/05 onwards figures relate to pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Figures in 2002/03 and 2003/04 relate to 15-year-olds pupils (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August 2002).  2. The figures relate to pupils attending all schools.

Grammar Schools: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on selection by ability in grammar schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We do not support selection by high academic ability and do not wish to see it extended. Legislation prevents admission authorities from introducing new selection of this type. Grammar schools already selecting in this way at the beginning of the 1997/98 academic year may continue to do so with decisions on whether individual grammar schools should continue to do so being made at a local level. Mechanisms are in place to allow parents to vote to remove selection at a grammar school.

Higher Education: Disadvantaged

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals went on to higher education upon leaving school in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is currently not available.

Mandate Communications

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what payments his Department made to  (a) Mandate Communications and  (b) AS Biss  Co in each of the last five years; on what dates; for what purpose the payment was made in each case; and what ongoing financial commitment exists.

Kevin Brennan: Our financial records show that the Department has not made any payments to the companies Mandate Communications or AS Biss in the last five years.

Midwives: Training

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what training in nutrition  (a) midwives and  (b) health visitors are required to undertake.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	Setting standards and curricula for health professional training is the responsibility of the statutory and professional bodies. Nutritional training is a component of the standard training for midwives and health visitors set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This can found at
	www.nmc-uk.org.
	Access to training is affected by a number of factors such as the availability of funding, whether staff can be released, the availability of appropriate training interventions, mentors and assessors. It would not be practical for the centre to be prescriptive on this.

Playgrounds: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department plans to allocate to improving playgrounds in each year from 2008-09 to 2011-12; what cost/benefit analysis has been undertaken of this expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: In response to consistent feedback received from children, young people and their families that there are not enough safe and stimulating places for them to play, we have made the biggest ever investment in play by Government. A total of 235 million over the next three years (2008-09 to 2010-11) will be made available to all local authorities to provide a range of innovative play facilities, accessible to all children. A total of 30 'Pathfinder' authorities will each receive on average 2 million capital and a substantial amount of revenue funding to develop public play areas and deliver 30 adventure playgrounds by 2011. By 2010 all the remaining authorities will each receive on average 1 million capital and a contribution towards their revenue costs to deliver our aim of developing up to 3,500 public play areas by 2011. The development of all sites will be shaped by local children, parents and communities to help meet the clear demand from the public for improved play facilities that our Children's Plan consultations revealed.
	To inform a full cost-benefit analysis of the impact of this expenditure, my Department is currently piloting and testing, via the Pathfinder programme, innovative approaches to promoting and supporting the play areas we are developing. Through the evaluation of this programme, we will identify the impact of our capital investment as well as identifying the most cost-effective way of implementing further national roll-outs of adventure playgrounds and play areas beyond 2010-11.
	In advance of the publication of Fair Play: A Consultation on the Play Strategy my Department completed a provisional value for money calculation expressed as the required reduction in future obesity costs resulting from play to offset the costs of the proposed spending. Other unquantified benefits such as attainment, emotional development and reduction in antisocial behaviour would only add to the attractiveness of our capital investment programme.

Pre-School Education

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the occupancy rate of nursery places provided in children's centres in each local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start Children's Centres serving the most disadvantaged communities in England must provide integrated early learning and full day care as part of their core services while centres serving less disadvantaged communities may provide integrated early learning and day care places where local demand is not being met by existing, good quality providers.
	The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information on the number of places and vacancies in full day care providers based in Sure Start Children's Centres in England. The 2006 survey estimated that there were 37,700 Ofsted registered places and 6,600 vacancies for children in these providers; therefore 82 per cent. of places were occupied.
	Data are not available at a local authority level.

Pupils: Bus Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on arrangements for free bus transport to and from schools for pupils aged  (a) under nine,  (b) nine to 11 and  (c) over 11 years (i) in the Isle of Wight, (ii) in Hampshire and (iii) in England.

Jim Knight: Home to School transport is not arranged around the three age groups quoted in the question. local authorities (LAs) have to make transport arrangements where they consider it 'necessary', to secure a child's attendance at school. Where they consider transport 'necessary', it must be free of charge. LAs have wide discretion in deciding whether transport is necessary, but they must provide free home to school transport for pupils of compulsory school age who are attending their nearest suitable school, provided that the school is beyond the statutory walking distances (two miles for pupils below the age of eight years and three miles for those aged eight years and over).
	The Education and Inspections Act 2006 extended entitlement to free school travel for pupils entitled to free school meals or whose parents are in receipt of maximum working tax credit. Since September 2007, primary school pupils aged over eight have been entitled to free travel to their nearest school where this is more than two miles from their home. At secondary age (11 to 16), pupils attending one of their three nearest schools that is between two and six miles from the child's home, and those attending their nearest school preferred on grounds of religion or belief, between two and 15 miles, will be entitled to free transport from September 2008.

Pupils: Hearing Impaired

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of school pupils who are  (a) hearing impaired and  (b) have a special educational needs statement on grounds of hearing impairment.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the following link
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000732/index.shtml
	to Statistical First Release Special Educational Needs in England: January 2007. Table 9 gives the available information on type of special educational need for pupils with a Statement or at School Action Plus. Copies of this publication have been placed in the House Libraries.

School Improvement and Targets Unit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the annual cost of the School Improvement and Targets Unit was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The outturn running costs for School Improvement Division (formerly School Improvement and Targets Unit) for 2007-08 were 1,968,158.
	During the last financial year, the principal responsibilities of staff in this division were:
	the publication of national Achievement and Attainment Tables and associated data systems;
	the New Relationship with Schools;
	all aspects of policy relating to school attainment and progression targets;
	school interventions and policies relating to schools placed in Ofsted categories of concern;
	general school improvement policy and strategies; and
	administrative support.

Schools: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which non-grammar schools have special dispensation to operate a partial system of selection by ability based on grandfathered rights; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Legislation prevents admission authorities from introducing new selection by high academic ability. Schools that selected a proportion of their pupils in this way at the beginning of the 1997-98 school year may continue to do so but they must publish a notice each year to inform parents who may wish to exercise their right to object to the Adjudicator.
	We do not formally collect information about which schools select a proportion of their pupils in this way. However the Department is aware of 40 such schools and they are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   LEA  School 
			 1 Barnet Mill Hill School 
			 2 Bexley Erith School 
			 3 Birmingham Ninestiles School 
			 4 Buckinghamshire Waddesdon C of E School 
			 5 Croydon Edenham High School 
			 6  Riddlesdown High School 
			 7  Archbishop Lanfranc 
			 8  Shirley High School 
			 9 Dorset Budmouth Technology College 
			 10 Dudley Old Swinford Hospital School 
			 11 Havering Coopers' Company and Coborn 
			 12 Hertfordshire Queens' School 
			 13  St. Clement Danes 
			 14  Parmiter's School 
			 15  Dame Alice Owen 
			 16  Rickmansworth 
			 17  Watford Boys 
			 18  Watford Girls 
			 19 Kent Homewood School 
			 20  Archbishop's 
			 21  Chaucer 
			 22  Westlands 
			 23 Kingston Holy Cross 
			 24 Lancashire Ripley St. Thomas CE High 
			 25 Lincolnshire Spilsbury King Edward VI 
			 26 Liverpool Archbishop Blanch CE High School 
			 27  King David High School 
			 28  St. Edward's College 
			 29  St. Hilda's CE High School 
			 30  St. Margaret's CE High School 
			 31 Peterborough Kings School 
			 32 Southampton St. Anne's Convent School 
			 33 Southend St. Bernard's High School 
			 34  St. Thomas More High School for Boys 
			 35 Surrey Roseberry Girls School 
			 36 Wandsworth Burntwood 
			 37  Ernest Bevin 
			 38  Chestnut Grove 
			 39  Graveney 
			 40 Warwickshire Ashlawn School

Schools: Construction

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have been commissioned outside the Building Schools for the Future programme in each of the last three years; and how many of them were commissioned under the private finance initiative model.

Jim Knight: The Department does not commission school buildings itself except for academies; such decisions are usually taken by the local authority or school owner.
	However, for new academies, traditionally procured by the Department, the following numbers of Funding Agreements were issued in each of the last three years: 15 in 2005-06, 21 in 2006-07, and 17 in 2007-08. A further 14 Funding Agreements were issued for academies to be delivered through the National Framework.
	Since 2005-06, the Department's private finance initiative resources have been allocated to Building Schools for the Future.

Schools: Construction

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many new schools went over their construction budget in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The Department does not usually commission schools itself, except for academies; such information would, therefore, be held locally.
	In the case of the academies programme, 16 of the 42 completed projects have exceeded their agreed construction budget. In a further six projects, final accounts have not yet been received.
	To date, 13 schools have been built as part of Building Schools for the Future and none of these received additional funding from central Government over and above the budgetary allocation agreed with the local authority for its group of schools.

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what public spending on schools in England  (a) was in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08 and  (b) is planned to be in (A) 2008-09, (B) 2009-10 and (C) 2010-11, in real terms using 2006-07 prices; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not yet available. The Department is currently updating this information for its 2008 departmental annual report due to be published in May. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available and place a copy of my response in the House Library.

Secondary Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many eligible pupils did not obtain level 4 in a combination of reading, writing and mathematics tests at Key Stage 2 in 2007, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Specialised Diplomas: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his latest estimate is of the cost to his Department of delivering the new diplomas in each year from 2008-09 to 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We have invested 45 million in 2007-08 to training the workforce and supporting consortia across the country to deliver diplomas.
	In addition, in 2008-09 schools will receive approximately 1,000 per student doing diplomas in KS4, to reflect the additional costs of delivering these courses.
	Schools and colleges delivering diplomas post-16 will receive funding for their diploma students at rates set by the LSC funding methodology for 2008/09. The funding rates for diplomas paid to schools and colleges will vary by line and level of learning, the additional learning options chosen by the student, factors particular to the school or college in which it is delivered including disadvantage, area costs and success rates, and funding for additional support learners may need.
	An illustrative example of funding that a school sixth form would receive over two years for a student on a diploma, A level and Edexcel national diploma vocational programme respectively, and excluding institutional and individual learner factors, is shown as follows:
	
		
			   Funding () 
			 Advanced Diploma 8,914 
			 A levels (3 AS, 3 A2) 7,383 
			 Edexcel National Diploma 8,561 
		
	
	The full details of LSC funding rates are published at
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/funding-policy/strategic-overview.

Teachers: Qualifications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school teachers had the equivalent of at least three A levels at grade B or better upon entering the profession in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Data from the TDA's Performance Profiles database show that a minimum of 26 per cent. of all undergraduate mainstream primary Initial Teacher Training (ITT) trainees who gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 2005/06 and entered a teaching post in a maintained schools within six months of gaining QTS had the equivalent of at least three A-levels at grade B or better upon entering their ITT course. The corresponding figure for secondary is 14 per cent.
	It is optional for HEIs to complete the tariff score for undergraduate trainees on the Performance Profiles database and approximately 30 per cent. of primary trainees and 42 per cent. of secondary trainees had unknown tariffs.
	Undergraduate trainees represent a small proportion of trainees entering teaching posts, only 37 per cent. for primary and 5 per cent. for secondary, the remainder were postgraduate trainees, whose A-level scores are not collected.
	The A-level scores for Employment Based ITT trainees are also not collected centrally.

Teachers: Standards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms are in place for the removal of teachers deemed to be incompetent in the classroom; and what role the General Teaching Council has in such procedures.

Jim Knight: We have introduced a revised performance management regime to support the on-going professional development of teachers. Classroom observations are a part of this process, and where significant weaknesses have been identified which performance management has been unable to address, teachers become subject to a school's capability procedures. The point at which this happens is determined locally.
	The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2003 require governing bodies to establish procedures for the regulation of the conduct and discipline of staff and for dealing with lack of capability on the part of staff and set out the processes governing bodies, in their role as employers, should follow in relation to the dismissal of staff.
	Where an employer dismisses a teacher on grounds of competency, they are required to notify the GTCE so the GTCE can considerfollowing investigation by themaction to remove the teacher from their registerwhich would effectively bar them from teaching in maintained schools. They should also notify the GTCE of instances where a teacher has resigned in circumstances where they would have been dismissed for that reason or consideration would have been given to their dismissal had they remained in post.

Teachers: Television

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what payments the Teachers' TV Board of Governors has made to  (a) Hanover Communications and  (b) Open Road in each of the last five years; and on what dates and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Kevin Brennan: The Teachers TV Board is in the process of making one payment of 934.13 (inclusive of VAT) to Hanover Communications for handling media around the publication of the board's 2007 annual report. No other payments have been made to Hanover Communications in the last five years. The Teachers TV Board has not made any payments to Open Road Communications.

Teachers: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers aged under 60 years left the profession in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the number of qualified teachers who are aged under 60 recorded as being out of service in March 2006, whose last recorded service was in the local authority maintained sector in Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region and England, broken down by the year that they left. The figures exclude teachers that have retired. It is unknown whether they have left service permanently.
	The total provided is different to that provided to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) on 20 March,  Official Report, column 1433W, because the series commences from 1996 not 1997 and excludes the first three months of 2006.
	The information provided is from the Database of Teacher Records which is maintained on behalf of the Department for pension administration purposes.
	
		
			  Qualified teachers employed in local authority maintained schools aged under 60 years who have left service( 1)  by March 2006, coverage: Yorkshire and the Humber and England, calendar years 1996 to 2005 
			   Yorkshire and  the Humber  England 
			 1996 460 6,090 
			 1997 520 6,790 
			 1998 600 7,940 
			 1999 640 8,370 
			 2000 740 9,980 
			 2001 900 10,970 
			 2002 1,000 12,150 
			 2003 1,060 11,630 
			 2004 1,250 14,520 
			 2005 2,070 20,510 
			 Total 9,420 110,680 
			 (1) Teacher is no longer in service in the English maintained schools sector and is not receiving a pension. May be teaching elsewhere outside of the English maintained sector.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Teachers: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) teachers and  (b) teaching assistants there were in each local authority area in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers and teaching assistants employed in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in each local authority in Yorkshire and The Humber Government Office Region and in England, in each January, 2003 to 2007.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent regular teachers (excluding occasional) and teaching assistants employed in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in local authorities in Yorkshire and the Humber Government Office Region and England, January 2003 to 2007 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Nursery/  Primary  Secondary  Nursery/  Primary  Secondary  Nursery/  Primary  Secondary  Nursery/  Primary  Secondary  Nursery/  Primary  Secondary 
			  Regular teachers( 1)   
			 England 197,430 206,870 196,640 211,000 196,270 215,060 198,190 216,290 197,100 216,850 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 20,630 21,150 20,380 21,980 20,220 22,520 20,430 22,540 20,370 22,470 
			 Kingston-Upon- Hull, City of 1,080 970 1,070 960 1,070 970 1,020 990 1,020 1,030 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,200 1,370 1,170 1,390 1,200 1,460 1,220 1,510 1,240 1,490 
			 North East Lincolnshire 700 710 680 710 660 710 680 680 660 680 
			 North Lincolnshire 620 610 620 680 600 670 590 720 590 680 
			 North Yorkshire 2,250 2,630 2,200 2,750 2,200 2,760 2,210 2,820 2,210 2,820 
			 York 640 680 630 700 620 700 620 700 650 700 
			 Barnsley 880 780 840 770 840 830 860 860 870 870 
			 Doncaster 1,240 1,420 1,230 1,460 1,220 1,470 1,240 1,360 1,220 1,310 
			 Rotherham 1,100 1,270 1,070 1,380 1,070 1,420 1,010 1,390 1,000 1,400 
			 Sheffield 1,950 1,870 1,900 1,940 1,880 1,960 1,940 1,980 1,900 1,810 
			 Bradford 2,260 2,170 2,240 2,220 2,260 2,240 2,310 2,150 2,340 2,290 
			 Calderdale 900 970 900 990 900 1,040 910 1,060 900 1,080 
			 Kirklees 1,640 1,580 1,670 1,620 1,640 1,660 1,760 1,710 1,730 1,710 
			 Leeds 2,830 2,770 2,860 3,040 2,810 3,180 2,770 3,170 2,790 3,170 
			 Wakefield 1,330 1,350 1,300 1,390 1,280 1,440 1,270 1,440 1,250 1,440 
			
			  Teaching assistants( 2)   
			 England 82,280 22,260 89,160 25,340 97,910 29,980 99,040 33,490 105,770 35,650 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 9,850 2,980 10,360 3,320 11,250 3,690 11,300 4,030 11,850 4,020 
			 Kingston-Upon- Hull, City of 340 150 370 190 520 210 510 240 570 240 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 380 170 470 200 580 230 630 250 680 290 
			 North East Lincolnshire 360 160 380 170 380 190 380 210 390 210 
			 North Lincolnshire 270 120 330 130 340 150 370 160 350 160 
			 North Yorkshire 810 280 950 320 1,060 330 1,180 380 1,260 400 
			 York 240 60 260 70 290 90 330 100 330 110 
			 Barnsley 490 120 480 130 530 120 450 150 490 160 
			 Doncaster 520 160 560 180 650 200 520 200 610 200 
			 Rotherham 540 130 620 170 640 200 560 210 590 220 
			 Sheffield 830 190 880 210 950 280 1,080 330 1,060 250 
			 Bradford 1,260 390 1,230 430 1,280 460 1,220 520 1,270 520 
			 Calderdale 580 130 610 150 630 170 620 160 660 170 
			 Kirklees 770 230 860 260 950 280 1,050 270 1,070 250 
			 Leeds 1,770 520 1,710 540 1,790 590 1,640 640 1,750 590 
			 Wakefield 690 160 650 180 670 190 760 210 770 240 
			 (1) Source: DCSF annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies (618g) (2) Source: DCSF School Census  Note:  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Teaching Methods

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of lessons in each school year were set in the latest period for which figures are available. [Official Report, 10 July 2008, Vol. 478, c. 11MC.]

Jim Knight: Ofsted collects data on the use of streaming and setting in lessons observed during inspections, the latest period for which their data indicate the proportion of lessons in each school year which are set by ability is 2002/03.
	
		
			  Lessons set as observed by Ofsted, 2002/03 
			   Percentage 
			 Year 7 28 
			 Year 8 38 
			 Year 9 43 
			 Key Stage 3 36 
			 Year 10 37 
			 Year 11 40 
			 Key Stage 4 39 
			 Overall Secondary 38 
		
	
	Until 2002/03, Ofsted recorded lessons observed during inspections as being set, streamed, mixed ability or otherwise organised. For clarity, 'setting' is the term used to describe the organisation of pupils in classes on the basis of their prior attainment in the particular subject being taught. The term 'banding', which is very similar to streaming, is used when the decision as to which pupils are included or not in a class is based on the prior attainment in a range of subjects.
	From 2003/04 the distinction between streaming and setting was removed and Ofsted now record data on whether classes they observe are mixed ability or set/streamed. They no longer record data on setting alone. It is therefore not possible to provide data on the proportion of lessons which are set for the period from 2003/04 onwards.

Young Offenders: Police Custody

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children aged  (a) 13,  (b) 14,  (c) 15,  (d) 16,  (e) 17 and  (f) under 18 years have been held in police cells under Operation Safeguard.

Jack Straw: I have been asked to reply.
	Since October 2006 the Government have used significant numbers of police cells provided through Operation Safeguard to help manage pressure in the prison population. Juveniles are not held under Operation Safeguard itself although over this period our records indicate that 36 juveniles were held overnight on an ad hoc basis. It is not possible to break this figure down by age without incurring disproportionate cost. The Government's policy is that juveniles should be held overnight in police cells only in the most exceptional circumstances. It does not happen routinely.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Rented Housing: Private Sector

Sally Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many households were living in private rented accommodation during each of the last three years.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	Estimates of the number of households in England living in private rented accommodation in each of the last three years are:
	
		
			   Number of households in private rented accommodation  in England 
			 2005 2,385,000 
			 2006 2,488,000 
			 2007 2,595,000 
			  Source: Labour Force Survey 
		
	
	These figures were published by the Department in December 2007 in 'Survey of English Housing Preliminary Results: 2006-07'.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Water Charges: Churches

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  for what reasons exemptions and reliefs on water charges for churches and charities will be removed in 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on churches and charities of the removal of exemptions and reliefs on water charges in 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations he has received on the removal of exemptions and reliefs on water charges for churches and charities in 2010;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with  (a) Ofwat,  (b) the Consumer Council for Water and  (c) other water industry representatives on the removal of exemptions and reliefs on water charges for churches and charities in 2010;
	(5)  if he will review the decision to remove exemptions and reliefs on water charges for churches and charities in 2010.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2000 the Secretary of State issued guidance on matters to be taken into account by Ofwat, the industry's economic regulator, in agreeing companies' charges schemes, including charging non-household users that are not businesses. These include places of worship, community facilities, charities and voluntary bodies. The guidance stated that those making similar demands on a service should be charged on the same basis. It also made clear that where premises impose customer-related costs in line with or lower than those of typical households, they should be able to benefit from tariffs which reflect their small demand on the water system.
	Churches were traditionally zero rated under the rateable value system of charging, meaning that they did not have to pay surface water drainage (SWD) charges. However the replacement of rateable value charges for SWD with a site area based charge means that churches will be required to pay surface water drainage charges and will no longer benefit from the cross subsidy that resulted from the rateable value system.
	Ofwat reviewed companies' approaches to charging for SWD in 2003. In RD35/03, 'Surface water drainagecharging policy' (September 2003), Ofwat concluded that charging according to site area was the best method of charging for SWD. Ofwat recommended that water companies consider introducing site area-based charging for SWDparticularly for non-household customers where the process is simpler to implement. However Ofwat also noted that, given that set up and administration costs of introducing this method were considerable, and would vary depending on customer base, it was for individual companies to decide if the benefits of implementing site area SWD charging outweighed the costs.
	For sewerage customers served by United Utilities the site area based SWD charge was introduced in 2007-08 for new and substantially altered properties. In 2008-09 it is being introduced for all non-household properties, including churches. The move to site area charging will be phased in over three years to reduce the year-on-year impact on those customers who will see an increase in their charges.
	The most cost reflective way of charging non-household customers for SWD is by reference to the customer's site area, because the larger the site area, the more surface water will drain from it. SWD charges based on site area are only payable for areas which drain (directly or indirectly) into public sewers. Chargeable areas will be adjusted to take account of large grassy or gravelled areas, such as church yards or burial grounds that do not drain into a public sewer. Surface area based charging offers strong incentives to customers to reduce surface water drainage costs they impose on companies, for example by installing soakaways. Charges can therefore be mitigated by customers by installing such devices. The approach aligns with the Government's water strategy for fair, affordable and cost reflective water and sewerage charges which incentivise environmentally responsible behaviour.
	Companies are obliged under their licences to ensure that charges are neither unduly preferential or unduly discriminatory between groups of customers. Ofwat therefore considers that churches and other places of worship should be treated no differently to other non-household customers.
	Ofwat has held discussions with the Consumer Council for Water which supports the proposal for all companies to charge surface water drainage by site area.